Thread: Lots of electrical issues

Well the wife brings the car home and proceeds to tell me there is a problem with the car (I swear Im going to revoke her driving privileges). She tells me that the D.I.C, the HVAC, and the Heated Seat is not working. I cant for the life of me figure out what all three would have in common, but I go out and check all the fuses (the ones I could find relating to those items) and none of them are blown.

Now, on the HVAC, my #5 was not working and has been that way for a while. the 1 - 4 worked fine, but if you turned it to #5 the fan just stopped. Turn it back to one of the other positions and everything was fine. But she tells me she didnt turn it to the #5 position.

So Im at a loss as to what the issue could be. Anyone have any suggestions?

Ignition switch contacts. I did a writeup for a bypass relay over at the other place...

Igniton Saver Modification

(So, will I get banninated for linking to stuff over there???)

Not from me. That kind of linking is fine. Thank you sir.

I just went back out to the car and I think I have it narrowed down. The D.I.C. and the Heated Seat is working now, but if I try to turn on the heater, even to position 1, the D.I.C. just goes blank and I bet heated seat would quit working too.

Let me ask this. If I put that relay in place and at some point down the road replace my ignition switch. Can this relay stay in place? Can you give me some details on what this does (just trying to understand for my own edification)? Im assuming that it bypasses the accessory circuit until the car is started?

Lastly, do you mind if this is added to our How To section?

Yes, the relay can stay put. What it does, is uses the stock contacts to drive the low-current coil. The contacts in the relay then take over the responsibility of carrying the high current that the ignition contacts used to. IF it ever fails, you can change it out in 45 seconds, rather than replace the ignition switch again.

Yeah, go ahead and add it to the How to's...

Could also be a main connector for the harness got wet or is loose.. Did this happen while she was driving inm the RAIN or thru a deep water puddle????

No, it was bone dry here and has been for a week or better.

Can anyone tell me where I can get an ignition switch from and what they typically run. Im going to do BackInBlacks mod, but I might as well get a good switch in there now and keep it protected with the modification.

Ed?