Car Died At Cruising Speed with No Warning

[joelittel]

I was driving along the highway at an easy pace and the car just died. I had been going about 70 mph, and all of a sudden I noticed that I could no longer feel the vibrations of the engine, my tach dropped to 0 and that was it, the car was dead.

I tried to restart it a couple times but the oil light would not come and the car never starts if that light doesn't come on. I also noticed my flashers wouldn't work. After letting it sit a minute it did start but none of my lights would work.

There is one fuse that looks to be out, which I'm guessing is the reason behind all my lights being dead, but do you guys have any idea why the car would have died on me after months of perfect performance?

This happened once before and the shop that fixed it said there was something behind the dash that was disconnected. I've looked back there and there is nothing obviously wrong or out of place.

Any ideas?

[GeorgeT]

Carb? FI? Year?

[joelittel]

1980 fuel injected.

[So Cal Mark]

sounds like a voltage drop; possibly at the ignition switch or connector from the switch.

[joelittel]

Thanks Mark.

[joelittel]

I started to investigate my ignition switch and came across this, and to me it looks damaged. I am wondering what it is and if it needs to be replaced.

See photo below.

This thing is mounted very close to my ignition switch and tucked up under my dash along side the steering column.

[joelittel]

[So Cal Mark]

it looks like a flasher, but unlike any I'm familiar with

[narfire]

My FI car died on the highway a number of years ago and it was one of the wires under the dist. cap that became too brittle and broke. Car just died...

[toplessexpat]

it looks like a flasher, but unlike any I'm familiar with

Looks like an aftermarket electronic flasher to me. Either the old one died (is there another fault lurking in the turn signal wiring?) or it was replaced to handle lower resistance bulbs (LED replacements?). A quick look at Brad Artigue's wiring diagram (http://www.njfiats.org/joomla/images/st ... MPLETE.pdf) confirmed light blue and white, blue -and violet as being the flasher wires on a 1980.

At the very least I'd replace the flasher unit.

Andy

[kev]

My FI car died on the highway a number of years ago and it was one of the wires under the dist. cap that became too brittle and broke. Car just died...

Had the same problem once...it was the electronic pickup in the distributer. Easy fix, easy to check for.

[joelittel]

Thanks for the input guys. I was able to call Autoricambi this morning and the guy on the other end of the phone confirmed what you both thought. It's a flasher relay.

Andy you may be right about there being a fault lurking in the turn signal wiring, the fuse labeled (I) or 9 was blown, again. I put a new fuse in as soon as I got it home after my original post. My wiring diagram shows (I) to be, among other things, the hazards and the high low beam switch. This is the second time the fuse has gone in less than a week... Will have to look into that later this week.

I found another interesting detail concerning the topic of my original post. When I try to start my car I'm used to seeing the battery light and the oil pressure light illuminate as soon as I turn the key to the on position. If I step on my brake I can make the oil pressure light go off. If I turn the car off, release the brake and then turn the car back on both lights come back on.

Could adding relays to the ignition switch circuit fix this problem?

Kev, you wrote, "Had the same problem once...it was the electronic pickup in the distributer. Easy fix, easy to check for."

I had that same problem and replaced my ignition with the distributor less ignition unit Mark sells. I'm very happy with it and until now have had no problems with starting/driving the car. My old distributer actually broke on me twice. Once was exactly as you described and the other time the part that rotates under the cap actually shattered.

[toplessexpat]

Thanks for the input guys. I was able to call Autoricambi this morning and the guy on the other end of the phone confirmed what you both thought. It's a flasher relay.

That's because they're both great! (as is Mr Allison / So Cal Mark and pretty much everyone else on this board.

Andy you may be right about there being a fault lurking in the turn signal wiring, the fuse labeled (I) or 9 was blown, again. I put a new fuse in as soon as I got it home after my original post. My wiring diagram shows (I) to be, among other things, the hazards and the high low beam switch. This is the second time the fuse has gone in less than a week... Will have to look into that later this week.

So, my next step would be (once you've confirmed you've got a good supply of spare fuses!) to unplug the hazard switch... and try again. If all is fine - then you can focus on the "joys" of the hazard switch. If it's still blowing fuses, then remove every turn signal bulb, and try each one by themselves. If one of them blows a fuse - then you've got something else to focus on.

I found another interesting detail concerning the topic of my original post. When I try to start my car I'm used to seeing the battery light and the oil pressure light illuminate as soon as I turn the key to the on position. If I step on my brake I can make the oil pressure light go off. If I turn the car off, release the brake and then turn the car back on both lights come back on.

I have no idea about this... Sure it's not just the oil pressure light going off after a short time because they all do (while you happen to be pushing on the brake)?

Could adding relays to the ignition switch circuit fix this problem?

I doubt it, although adding relays on the headlight circuit is a very sensible upgrade anyway. Reduces current flowing through the ignition switch (which gets really rather warm sometimes) and brightens your headlights.

I think systematically going through your flasher circuits you'll get where you need to be.

[Piccola]

I found another interesting detail concerning the topic of my original post. When I try to start my car I'm used to seeing the battery light and the oil pressure light illuminate as soon as I turn the key to the on position. If I step on my brake I can make the oil pressure light go off. If I turn the car off, release the brake and then turn the car back on both lights come back

I have no idea about this... Sure it's not just the oil pressure light going off after a short time because they all do (while you happen to be pushing on the brake)?

Seems you have some wiring issue. The white wire on the brake light sw is the same wire for the oil pressure . Up to C22 is white then become yellow black and it is the common for oil, low fuel and a + in the water temp gauge. The white wire starts from fuse 1 .

Drawing J and D , artique.

[joelittel]

Thank you Piccola, I will find and follow that wire after I study the wiring diagram.

In snooping around under my dash and hood I've discovered quite a few neglected parts, sensors, connectors etc. As I go I am trying to upgrade these bits in hopes that I can avoid future problems, however, it seems that at every turn there is a problem.

I can't get this sensor out, and I'm worried I rounded a couple of the corners last night wile trying.



Is there a simple trick to this, or a tool that will make the task easier?