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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: CODE4LS1 on March 09, 2009, 08:11:43 pm

Title: Electrical Gremlin
Post by: CODE4LS1 on March 09, 2009, 08:11:43 pm

I just recently put my MK1 Caddy 1.6 turbo diesel project on the road.  Every now and then, mostly when driving at night, everything will go dead.  Instrument cluster lights, headlights, even kills the power to the IP solenoid.  Then, before I make it to a complete stop on the shoulder, if the key is still on, it will pick up and run again with all the lights back on.

It seems to only happen when the cooling fan comes on, but is it supposed to turn on at freeway speeds?

I have not found any fusible links in the Bentley manual, and all grounds seem to be in good working order.  Should I remove all grounds anyway and clean them again?

Off subject, there is a sensor that goes on the radiator support with 2 wires going to it.  Is this a wind speed sensor that is supposed to kill fan power at freeway speeds?  I recently found it in my box of "extra" parts and realized I forgot to install it.

Thanks for any help.....other than this little glitch, the little truck runs fantastic!

Daniel

Title: Electrical Gremlin
Post by: toywagen on March 09, 2009, 09:59:45 pm

Obviously you've checked your battery ground. Something else common to headlamps, dash lamps and i/p would be power supply to fuse box. A good wiggle test while running reveals much.

Title: Electrical Gremlin
Post by: the caveman on March 09, 2009, 11:09:50 pm

If you have American built caddy and it has the american style fuse box, there should be fusible links. IF so they will be behind the battery along the top of the frame going to the firewall.
You can check if it's your ground by making or getting  a jumper wire  with a large gauge on it. connect one to battery neg. and other end to some where clean on the chassis. drive it and see .

Title: Electrical Gremlin
Post by: arb on March 10, 2009, 08:44:54 am

I had a similar problem with a MK1 1.6NA I had... it had the german style fuse block. The A pillar had a leak at the base that allowed water onto the fuse block. I fixed the leak and replaced the fuse block, GP relay, GP - twice, installed custom manual GP controler. Then it was reliable again for another 100K miles.

Title: Electrical Gremlin
Post by: CODE4LS1 on March 10, 2009, 10:46:43 am

Ok, sounds like there are a few things to check before it gets fixed.  I'll look at the fuse box and fusible links and see if that doesn't fix it.  Thanks fr the help!