New Member / Need help

[guilf1]

Hi folks.

I picked up a 91 Festiva a few weeks ago for the mpg's. It's been doing great, but last night an electrical problem has developed.

Car is still running fine, but tach, gas, and temp gauges quit, auto-seat belt quit, turn signals quit, and the warning buzzer for the lights stays on if the lights are turned on.

As far as I can tell, everything else is working. All of this happened at once. Does this ring any bells with anyone? What do all of these things have in common that would cause simultaneous failure?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[DriverOne]

Sounds like a short caused multiple fuses to blow. That could cause a lot of that. As far as the buzzing... Maybe the cluster is bad? Just a few options, really.

[guilf1]

Thanks, that was my thought as well, but i checked a few of the fuses to the left of the steering wheel, and all looked good. Are there other fuses elsewhere that i could check?

[Team Lightning]

Sounds like a grounding issue to me. Possibly a broken ground wire.
I would check the body to engine ground wire first.

[htchbck]

I doubt its the fuses. My guess would be a bad ground somewhere in the instrument cluster and/or cluster wiring. Have you been able to verify that the actual turn signals aren't working (outside the vehicle) or is it just the indicators on the dash that aren't flashing?

Edit: Jerry beat me to it, he's pretty quick! But I'm a little more thorough :razz:

[guilf1]

No turn signals whatsoever. Just seems like an odd group of things to quit.

[FestYboy]

what's your location? there may be a knoledgeable (sp) member in your area tha can help.

[guilf1]

I have brake lights, headlights, horn, radio... although the clock on the aftermarket radio did reset to 12:00, so power was interrupted there, at least briefly.

[guilf1]

I'm near Winchester, Va.

[stonemaster]

not at all odd for that group to go out IMO, on most vehicles ur lights and indicator run on the same circuits, apart from the ignition and all that, +1 on the ground, look in engine compartment for loose wires, i found two when i bought mine, and one was a ground someone didnt hook up securely after working on it

[WmWatt]

You could reach under the dash and try randomly wiggling wires until something happens.
Firs thing I'd do is spray WD-40 or contact cleaner into the ignition key hole and the combination switches on the steering column. Good luck.

[shadetree]

Im in romney wv but i travel through winchester every day for work. I can swing by one day and lend a hand . pm me
Im wondering if its a loose fuse link on driver strut tower? although i had a white tach dash at one time that was beep constaint when it was cold ..

[guilf1]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will give it another look.

[georgeb]

When I get back from taking my daughter to the orthodontist I will look in my wiring manual for under dash grounds locations.

[hotfordcat]

When I get back from taking my daughter to the orthodontist I will look in my wiring manual for under dash grounds locations.

My 93GL does that when it really cold outside. I drive it a few miles and everything starts working again. Vibration from driving bounces the wiring enough I guess. LOL