Wiring geniuses needed. Electrical gremlins, Need help tracing wiring issues. Options

[brandomc]

Hi everyone, it has been a while since i posted on here. Last time i was having issues with a used 1.7 i put in my car. Since then, i built a 2056 and got the car running and driving. As i was out breaking in the engine my coil vibrated loose, slid into my throttle linkage and shorted out my ignition system. The positive wire to the coil melted and combined itself with the negitive coil wire. I pulled the engine harness out of the car and fixed the two wires that got toasted, but now the car has no power to the coil when i turn the key on. I have been trying to use the wiring diagrams in the haynes manual to trace the circuit, but i have been unable to figure it out. Those wiring diagrams suck, they look like they were photo copied 3 or 4 times before they made it into the manual.
I also pulled my relay board and did a continuity test to at all the corisponding terminals and the board checks out ok. Im not sure where to go from this point. It doesnt look like there are any fuses anywhere for this circuit. There are some other electrical issues too, but getting the car running is #1 priority. I pulled the fuse pannel down from the dash and the wires that hook to the fuse for the blinkers were melted. The blinkers havent been working on the car, so somewhere there is an issue with that circuit as well. Ignition circuit first though. Anyone have any expertise in this area?? Please help. I must show these gremlins who is really in charge!!

[brandomc]

I forgot to mention that when i turn the key into the on position, none of the warning lights on the dash light up. If i jump a wire from the positive terminal on the battery to the positive on the coil, all the warning lights work and the car starts and runs. I just cant turn the car off.

[Spoke]

I forgot to mention that when i turn the key into the on position, none of the warning lights on the dash light up. If i jump a wire from the positive terminal on the battery to the positive on the coil, all the warning lights work and the car starts and runs. I just cant turn the car off.

Yikes, this is not good. What you are doing is power the car instead of from the ignition key, from the wire from the coil. You may have toasted either the ignition switch or the wire from fuse #8 to the ignition switch pin 15.

Do test 4) from my previous post and let us know what you find.

You do have a voltmeter right? If not, go buy one you will need in on future electrical issues.

[brandomc]

I forgot to mention that when i turn the key into the on position, none of the warning lights on the dash light up. If i jump a wire from the positive terminal on the battery to the positive on the coil, all the warning lights work and the car starts and runs. I just cant turn the car off.

Yikes, this is not good. What you are doing is power the car instead of from the ignition key, from the wire from the coil. You may have toasted either the ignition switch or the wire from fuse #8 to the ignition switch pin 15.

Do test 4) from my previous post and let us know what you find.

You do have a voltmeter right? If not, go buy one you will need in on future electrical issues.

Thanks, this is great info. Yes i do have a voltmeter. Just to let you know, i am prety good with wiring when i have good diagrams, or when im designing something from scratch. I have wired several street and race cars, and i have designed and built cnc machines from scratch mechanical and electrical. Hopefully i dont sound like an idiot by hooking up the positive strait to the coil. It did get the car home without letting any more smoke out. If i need to get up to the ignition switch, what does it take to pull that out of the steering column??

[Spoke]

Hopefully i dont sound like an idiot by hooking up the positive strait to the coil. It did get the car home without letting any more smoke out. If i need to get up to the ignition switch, what does it take to pull that out of the steering column??

Hell no. Good job to get home w/o a tow. Check the voltage on Fuse 8 first. It might be the wire between the fuse and the ignition switch and not the ignition switch itself.

You can check the voltage on either side of fuse 8 w/o dropping the fuse panel. One side or the other should have 12V on it when the key is in the ON or START position.

The schematics on PP are better in color than some of the Haynes manuals but even the schematics can be difficult to follow.