| Author |
Message |
devin c
Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2022
Posts: 1
Location: oakland ca
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:53 am Post subject: Tips for debugging main battery connection? |
 |
|
Howdy! I've got a 1986 Syncro which was recently stolen and recovered. Happily they didn't do too much to it mechanically, mostly just stripped it for all the extra camper goodies that they could unbolt.
Recently I was trying to cheer myself up by putting in a new stereo and speakers, which went great, but I couldn't find the Ignition/Acc+ line. The previous owner had installed a switch to flip between the starter and the cabin battery for stereo operation, so I could operate the stereo in that mode, but none of the wires I could find in the dash seemed to be the one that turned on when the ignition turned on (switch controls a relay, ON just opens up the connection to +12V from the cabin battery, OFF should connect it to the ignition signal).
Anyway, somehow, while I was poking around behind the fuse box and trying to multimeter some likely candidates, I seem to have done something very bad because now the entire main electric system seems entirely disconnected. Nothing happens when the ignition is engaged no dash lights or anything), none of the exterior lights go on when I flip that switch, obviously it doesn't turn over or start, etc. (The stereo still works if I turn on that switch, ha ha.)
I've checked the fuses and the battery connections. The starter connection to the battery is good—but it's not just the starter, because literally none of the other electrics work, either.
It seems like something big, but simple, I just don't really know where to start. Any tips on where to start investigating an issue like this, key places to check for power and/or ground in various states, crucial relays that could be at fault?
----
Some more details:
The shop that got it driveable again seems to have just connected the whole cabin battery circuit to the starter battery, which is a whole other kettle of fish… they had mentioned on the phone that "the car won't start without the second battery" which seems like it could be related.
I did find that there was some circuitry for a remote keyless entry system that a previous owner had installed and which to my knowledge has never been functional which was jumpered up to various things and had a bunch of relays and such associated with it, which I started to yank out and which I'm now wondering if it did any funny business to immobilize the vehicle if someone started doing that, or some such.
There are also various disconnected plugs and whatnot behind the fusebox. Which it's hard to tell which of them are important and which are supposed to be disconnected. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
dobryan 
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17295
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52671
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Tips for debugging main battery connection? |
|
|
You need power to the fuse box on the #30 (B+) circuit. This will require among other things that the connections on the battery are both good. Check for voltage while you have some load turned on, say the ignition and the headlights.
There is no ACC position on a Vanagon ignition switch, just OFF, ON, and Start. There are various work arounds to make it so you can use your stereo without having the ignition powered up, maybe that is part of what your added switch did?
Sorry, but you need to learn how to read the DIN current track style electric schematics. They are the best out there once you learn how to use them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dougnlina
Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2016
Posts: 316
Location: San Francisco, CA
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2022 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Tips for debugging main battery connection? |
|
|
I had the exact same scenario recently, it turned out when I had the fusebox out I had inadvertently disconnected the large red and white wire from the back of it, maker sure your connections to the back of the fusebox are secure
_________________
"Grover" a '87 Syncro Poptop 1.8T
"Olive" a '60 Ragtop Beetle (retired)
"Kermit" '79 Westfalia (retired)
"Patches" '72 Beetle (retired)
"Wilbur" '69 Camper (retired)
"Bernice" 67 Beetle, My first love, (Also Retired) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
