Testing and Repairing Junk Car Circuits - Tips and Help
If power is not reaching an electrical accessory, use the test light at the fuse box. Turn on the ignition and all switches on the circuit, and touch the grounded test light probe to the retaining clips at each side of that circuit's fuse or breaker. If only one side lights the test light, the fuse or breaker is blown: insert a replacement. If both sides light the test light but the accessory is not receiving power, the break is somewhere else in the circuit. Test the connectors on the wires leading to the accessory and test the wire at several points in between by pushing the probe through the insulation into the copper strands, until the break location is discovered. Repair the break with a splice or replace the entire section of wire where a break is not accessible.
To access the back of a switch for testing, pry or unscrew it from its panel. Then turn on the ignition switch and touch the probe of the grounded test light to the switch terminals. If the test light shines at one terminals but not at the other, the switch is faulty. A door jamb switch grounds the wire from the dome light circuit. Detach the switch by removing its test light. Touch the probe of the grounded test light to the end of the switch where the wire is attached, then to the base of the switch where it contacts the mounting screw. If the test light glows, the switch is faulty, replace it. The dome light will glow when the test light does because the test light completes the ground circuit.
Correcting a Junk Car's Flooded Engine (Engine with Carburetor)
If the car's engine cranks but fails to start, the engine may be flooded. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor; hold it there, without pumping it, while cranking the engine. Do not run the starter continuously for more than 10 seconds; this could drain the battery or worse, damage the ignition system. If the engine will not turn over, turn off the ignition, wait 10 minutes and try again. Should the engine still not start, remove the air cleaner cover, and inspect the carburetor.
Caution: Do not smoke or light a flame. The carburetor may be wet with fuel and you will smell raw gasoline if the engine is flooded. If the choke plate is closed, the air/fuel mix may be too rich, another cause of engine flooding. Wedge it fully open with the tip of a screwdriver, hold the accelerator pedal to the floor and try the starter again.
Caution: Do not smoke or light a flame. The carburetor may be wet with fuel and you will smell raw gasoline if the engine is flooded. If the choke plate is closed, the air/fuel mix may be too rich, another cause of engine flooding. Wedge it fully open with the tip of a screwdriver, hold the accelerator pedal to the floor and try the starter again.
