Electrical problem

[k wright]

Driving in the rain today and while sitting at a light the Stack panel starts turning on and off as does the radar detector and then a loud pop under the dash followed by a puff of smoke and the alternator light.

Almost home so I drove it. The windshield wiper still worked but the lights and turn signals did not.

Any ideas on where to start?

Thanks,

ken

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Ken because it was at first intermitten my quess is a loose ground. If the hot side was the problem I think you would have blown the fuses on that circuit right off the bat. Look and see if you can find evidance of any arcing under the dash. Lee

[Steve_D]

Can you list for us all the items that are no longer working and any fuses that have blown as this will help point at a common link.
At present the loss of Stack and lights does not seem to offer that link and I don't think will be an earth fault unless there are also blown fuses.

Steve

[k wright]

Greatly appreciate the help. I will post any findings as soon as possible.

ken

[k wright]

After some Dash diving (always miserable) I've found that the item that went pop and then smoked was a small capacitor on the radio receiver board for my turn signals (Crafty, any more photos and details of your stalk setup, I like yours best as it affords a good deal of room behind the wheel).

So I removed this board and now have no power to anything despite a charged battery. The wiring diagram lists a main relay but I have yet to find it. The harness appears to be intact, all the fuses are intact.

Will do some more tests in the AM to find out where the battery power is going.

ken

[crafty]

Ken,

the only pics I have on hand are the couple in the "FORD stalks pin out" sticky at the top

GC

[k wright]

It looks as simple as a bad connection to the battery!

Anyone got a spare MK4 turn/light stalk set they want to sell? I'm in the USA and will gladly pay for packing and shipping.

Thanks,

ken