follow-on question to a previous post. I fried some things when I connnected my battery cables backwards messing around with my car in the dark, now the car is completely dead when the key is turned. what I have done: Replaced my voltage regulator and starter solenoid. The alternator and starter tested out ok at my local parts shop so they have been ruled out. other potnetial issues: During the process I noticed that one of the tines on the old voltage regulator had some electrical scoring on it and it appeared the wires where it attached were pretty scorched as well. Separately, one of the wires on my solenoid fell free from the eyelet they were spliced to as well. I haven't swapped any fuses yet so they are still a possibility. I have inspected the battery cables and am contemplataing replacing them as well (only one bad spot but more of a just in case). questions at hand: What other things do I need to check/replace, etc to get the car runnning again? Since I am already doing this it seems a good time to re-do the rats nest of jerry-rig wiring that came with the car. Are there any hints/tips to doing this? Are there any special tools I need? What parts/materials are required to do this type of job? I have a chiltons manual, wire strippers, and electrical tape....
The same thing happened to our 71 Ford truck when we still had it. The only thing we had to replace was a fuseable link around the voltage regulator area. I believe Mavs have those too, so that may be a possibility. The one on our truck looked similar to this:
yep...mavs has one of those, had to replace mine. You might need to replace the short circuit protector also(under solenoid...not sure what thats called...) as thats probably been fried...I got mine out of a 1987 LTD and the plastic harness is different, but the wires are ran the same way and it works fine. Theres a box on the other side also that probably needs to be replaced. more then likely anything that wires hook to has been fried.
when you checked batt cables, did you make sure you have good connection? If your lucky when you hooked up backwards, the arc broke-fried your connection. Ground wire on engine block good place to start. If I read right, you have no power at all--- Test light will help, keep following wires till you lose power.
