If the engine looms not connected should I get power

[crossedmike]

Ok Started to build parts the car up while I wait for parts so attached the battery what I'm wanting to know is when I turn the ignition should my radio come on or with the engine loom been disconnected will this not work may be a silly question but wanted to make sure original wires are ok

 

[CraigW]

I would think that it should work because I would think it would take power straight from the battery to the fusebox and to the cd player. Do you get lights on the dashboard?

Unless the power goes through something in the engine bay first or on route to the battery.

I am no expert on auto electrics tho.

 

[M1KEH]

Depends how much of your engine loom is disconnected......

 

[crossedmike]

This was my thought so now I'm worried as I have no lights no power no nothing hmmmm I would really like to know tho

 

[M1KEH]

I'd get it all connected then worry.

 

[crossedmike]

Depends how much of your engine loom is disconnected......

Only the engine plugs Ecu still on and wires for lighs and rad still conennected

 

[M1KEH]

Have you got all the earth and power wires connected to the starter and alternator etc.

 

[crossedmike]

Ye all connected that y I was slightly worried

 

[M1KEH]

Checked the batteries not flat?

 

[crossedmike]

It says charged on my battery pack I'll double check it all and then just plumb wires in and see

 

[ibiza_95]

have you got the earth lead attached to the battery, and then is that attached to the chassis?
also the main power for the car is fed by the thick red wire (iirc) that is attached to the battery terminal, could be via a ring terminal, on the battery terminal

 

[crossedmike]

Ye all is connected which is strange I even put a bulb across the battery and is comes on I had to relocate my earth so I'll try again and let you guys know

 

[Caffienated]

Any joy?

Some cars have a 'fusible link' (piece of fuse wire) buried in the harness as an uber-fuse - should only go if something drastic like a shorting starter or other MAJOR dead short to eath happens. Pretty sure Beezer just has whacking big blade fuse for that tho.

Working through it, -ve terminal to chassis earth; +ve terminal to starter>alternator>main feed to fuse box bus bars>rest of car.

Pretty sure radio circuit shouldn't be live unless ignition is live.

To be honest, it's time to get a meter out and see what's where relative to what.

Once I've got mine through it's test (grrrr ABS grrrr vagcom grrrr) and escaped back down south to yorkshire I don't mind taking a look if you put the kettle on. No promises though!

 

[crossedmike]

Any joy?

Some cars have a 'fusible link' (piece of fuse wire) buried in the harness as an uber-fuse - should only go if something drastic like a shorting starter or other MAJOR dead short to eath happens. Pretty sure Beezer just has whacking big blade fuse for that tho.

Working through it, -ve terminal to chassis earth; +ve terminal to starter>alternator>main feed to fuse box bus bars>rest of car.

Pretty sure radio circuit shouldn't be live unless ignition is live.

To be honest, it's time to get a meter out and see what's where relative to what.

Once I've got mine through it's test (grrrr ABS grrrr vagcom grrrr) and escaped back down south to yorkshire I don't mind taking a look if you put the kettle on. No promises though!

Ahh I will check for a big blade fuse I only checked the small ones I mean as mentions earlie I'll get the new Ecu an loom and and see if still no joy then can start to work backwards

Thanks for the offer

 

[Caffienated]

No worries

I've got a bit of time the next couple of weeks while I get a new job sorted and Sheffield's not a million miles from Leeds... Don't mind coming over to wield a meter or whatever. Just ask if it'd be helpful!

Another thought, is the engine bolted in? Earth circuit needs those bolts to subframe to chassis or alternatively a nice braided strap or such...

 

[crossedmike]

No worries

I've got a bit of time the next couple of weeks while I get a new job sorted and Sheffield's not a million miles from Leeds... Don't mind coming over to wield a meter or whatever. Just ask if it'd be helpful!

Another thought, is the engine bolted in? Earth circuit needs those bolts to subframe to chassis or alternatively a nice braided strap or such...

ye its all bolted in and conencted the only wiring was the old wires to the lights and horn and fan

then the new loom and ect needed so the only wires from the engine is the + & - from battery to the starter

altho my mate when he put my battery in connected the + battery to the wing and it sparked i checked all small blade fuses but couldnt see any blown

 

[crossedmike]

just realised my engine isnt earthed i mean the + &- are connected from the started to the battery then the - on the battery to the chassis but my old engine was earthed to the chassis via the coil i wonder if i earthed the engine it would play ball haha

 

[ibiza_95]

you need the main power lead to the fuse box to be attached to the battery mike...iirc its a red wire, fairly heavy gauge with a ring terminal on the end... nothing will work without it

 

[Mythbuster]

Maybe this is a very, very stupid question... But what happened to me when I changed my radio was that I couldn't get it to work untill I put the headlights on. Ignition didn't make any difference whatsoever, but the wires all seemed to be normal. There wasn't any trace of someone that had been messing with the wiring...

I have no idea if the old radio was working like this too, but... Maybe, just maybe, under some circumstances when something in your wiring goes wrong and some part of your circuit has a shortcut or whatever... the radio might only work with lights on?!

 

[crossedmike]

i think we have found the problem and i shall let you all know this evbenign after 9 with me luck i mean my wiring always has been spurious haha looks like thad been fiddled with