I just bought a 91 2+2 which i was told had a bad starter, and thats the reason the vehicle wasn't starting. However, with the battery fully juiced up I turned the key and NOTHING turns on. Guages, radio, lights, nothing. I hooked up the black (shorter) battery terminal to the negative and Red (longer wire) terminal to the positive on the battery. I'm assuming somebody wasn't trying to be funny and switched the colors. At the terminals everything on my voltmeter comes up fine. Running a positive to the wire on my test light and poking the fuses under the dash the test light comes on. The fuse block is running 12- ? I wonder if there is a monster short somewhere? Also there is a thick white wire near the battery that looks like it has no buisiness as a ground wire showing negative. This is true with a red wire stretching down the passenger side engine bay that connects at a plug on the wheelwell. Negative as well. Sometimes ebay purchases dont always go as planned :/ I'm pulling the engine soon with my cousin who runs a shop, and with how cramped this engine bay looks I might have to wait until then to see what on earth is going on. Man all of these wires are hard to get to. I was warned, but thats ok, when I'm done itll all be worth it

Advise please,
BlinginZ

 

if the engine is coming out make sure to do teh 120k mile cervice, get new battery cables. and EFI harness, check for oil leaks, if it's stick u might wanna resurface flywheel, or upgrade both clutch and flywheel. change the gear oil in the tranny and diff. adn recharge ac. oh and how bout soem pics of the 2+2? n.n

 

That white wire goes to positive, not negative. Check the main ground. It's located behind the battery. You have to pull the battery in order to see it.

 

The main ground bolted to the trans looks fine to me. Ill take it off and clean it tomorrow just in case. I removed the wires going to the starter because my cousin said a faulty solenoid could be causing the problem. That hasn't helped either. The power wire going to the starter is +, which is the first sign of a positive charge ive seen since i got this car lol. Yea I was pretty surprised to see the white wire going to the fusible links lighting up when i give the other end of my test light a +. Good thing its disconnected I guess :/ None of the fusible links appear to be blown. I really appreciate the help so far.

Blingin Z

 

There is a ground that goes to the tranny, but that's not the main. The main ground goes to the firewall behind the battery. If the main ground is too corroded then the ground from the tranny won't do anything.

 

Maybe the ignition switch is bad. If there is +12v at the fuse block then the ignition switch would be next in line to turn everything on.

 

I don't think it's the ignition switch because nothing works (lights, stereo, etc.)

 

it might be the same fusible that blew on my car when my dad plugfed in the battery wrong. the stereo and interior lights didn;t work. am I right? btut he headlights and turn signals work fine just the interior that's acting goofy.

 

sounds like the main fusible link.
Check in front of the battery, there should be the fusible link holder.
The first one should look like a wire loop. Replace that one.

 

no if that was it it woudl draint he battery. and nothignat all woudl work. nothign at all zero nada

 

That would not cause the battery to drain. He's not having a problem, with the battery draining. the problem that he's having is that nothing works. It's either the main fusible link or the main ground.

 

Bardabe, you're not reading everything again. lol