My El Camino won't start. Help?

Question

Ok. My Brother and I were working on my 81' El Camino.

I forgot to remove the battery cable. Apparently the carb'ed 305 took the place a fuel injected motor maybe... becuz the wiring harness had massive amounts of plugs unplugged. and you only need the basics for a carb'ed car. one of the plugs arc'ed and the car hasn't been able to start since. I think it fried the starter, I replaced it. Still no go.

I CHECKED FUSES
BATTERY
AND STARTER.

Answer 1

You need to examine (pull) each fuse one at a time. I'll bet you'll find a blown fuse in there.

The only other thing that can happen is you'll burn through a fused link which is a pinkish colored wire (have to wipe the crud off to see the color sometimes). They are inline with the other wires typically near the starter solenoid or the small wire bus mounted on the firewall near the brake master cylinder.

If it didn't burn the outter insulation it's hard to tell if a fused link is burned through. Best bet is to check for power with a voltmeter. You'll have to disconnect the wire(s) one at a time where they are connected to a bus or starter solenoid and turn the key to the "on" (not start) position. If there's no power to a wire when the key is on then it's a good bet the fused link is burned through inside the insulation. Easy to fix just hard to find sometimes. The fused links are easy to identify as they are pink (or red) in color and have a round plastic collar on them and are attached inline to a few wires. Make sure you solder (soldering iron) the new link if you have to replace one so the connection is solid.

There's probably only three fused links you need to check and two of them are attached to the starter solenoid and one is mounted to the bus near the brake master cylinder. The power to the exciter wire and all of the dash board accessories and other electrical stuff is run through only a few wires and these three are "it".

Hope it's just a fuse as this is easier to fix.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Often they madewiring harnesses for various cars that didn't have all the features or needed all the wires but the wires were there anyway.

What you should do if you think it's the starter is take it off and directly jump it to the battery. If it runs, it's something else. If it doesn't and you tap it with a hammer or the solenoid, it's the starter.

If I understand you correctly, the car won't start and won't turn over? If it cranks but doesn't start, that's a different problem. But I'm assuming it won't crank.

It sounds to me, when you say you shorted out a wire, that you may have blown one of the main fuses on the fuse block.

Sometimes these fuse blocks are impossible to tell is they're good or bad just by looking. Usually, they list what block does what. If you can get the lights or horn or anything else to work that's the same size as the starter fuse block, switch them. If the starter works, you've solved your problem and need to renew that starter fuse block.

The main fuse block is usually in the engine compartment with the accessory fuse box in the passinger compartment.

Answer 3

That car was not originally fuel injected. It is, however a "feedback carburetor" which has an o2 sensor and a computer that controls fuel mixture and idle speed with electric motors. If it won't turn over, assuming the battery has a full charge and you replaced the starter, you probably fried some wiring for the starter. Find a wiring diagram, and go from there.

Answer 4

The spark most likely fried a fuse or fusible link. Check the fuses and then check for voltage. I'd buy a book and look for fusible link locations, I doubt you fried the starter, they are always protected.

Answer 5

If you didn't take the cable off the battery, and fried the wiring, no one will be able to help you without seeing it. Take it in.

Answer 6

checked all fuses?check voltage regulator,probably on alternator.find out what the wire that shorted connects to,might lead you to problem...hpoefulley you did not fry computer,if this car still has one.GOOD LUCK