Help me with an electrical problem on Ford Super Wagon.

[doodlebug1]

I have inherited a 1980 Ford Super Wagon. It's been sitting unused for a few years, but the oil is clean, good anti-freeze. Got a new battery.

Yet, all we can get is power from the battery to the cylinoid/solenoid. Nothing works--lights, dashboard, nothing. There is no power to the fuse panel either.

What do I do? Know nothing about electrical.

Janie

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

You will probably need to visit the Autozone website, Repair Information section, and see if they have a wiring diagram for the starting system of that car, or one similar to it and of similar vintage. Then find a friend who can read the wiring diagram and suggest test points to look at, such as fusible links or auxilliary fuse panels that you may not be aware are in the car.


-Rod

[MagicRat]

As Rod noted it's probably the fuseable link.

There is a positive wire (red in color, unless it's been changed in the past) that goes from the positive terminal on the battery or starter soliniod to the fuse panel. This wire provides all the electrical power to the vehicle, except for the starter itself.

The fusable link should be is in this wire. It serves the same purpose as any other fuse, except that it is not easily replaced. Often this link is close to the battery and is clearly marked. Look for a black one-inch long section of the wire. Often it is marked "FUSABLE LINK"

When you find it, test the wire itself on either side of the link (most electrical testers have a very sharp probe that can easily pierce the rubber insulation on wires for this purpose). If the wire is live on one side of the link and dead on the other, then you have found the problem.

This wire can be easily replaced...... just be sure to replace it with one of the same size (gauge) Just be careful, if the link blew, there may be another electrical short (probably in the fuse panel itself or the power wire) that caused the link to blow in the first place. This short, if it exists would need repair to avoid further electrical damage.

If the link is actually good, check the connection for this power wire to the fuse panel. Sometimes this connection gets corroded.

[doodlebug1]

Hooray. You were right about the fusable link. It had a broken wire and we replaced it. Thank you. It probably just needs gas now, and we have to figure out which tank the switch works on.

Janie

[MagicRat]

glad to see it worked out.