z driver 88t

1984 928S US model 5 speed.

I had the CE panel out over the weekend following the standard refresh guidelines and using Deoxit. Put the panel back in, reconnected the battery, and had a very strange issue. Almost nothing works.

OK - here's what I've checked / diagnosed so far.

1. All the plugs and relays are in the correct position and orientation. I took tons of digital pics of the panel before removing it so I could verify everything was plugged back in the same way.

2. I have continuity from the grounds at the bottom plugs to the ground wires that connect under the dash.

3. I have 12 volts across all three of the red power leads that lead into the ottom center of the CE panel. So the panel itself is getting power.

4. My horn works, so relay X at least is functioning.

5. When I put a jumper across the 30/87 terminals on the starter relay, the engine turns over. So again there is power getting to the panel.

So the panel seems to be getting power. But the car doesn't turno over from the ignition switch, the headlights don't come up, tail lights, cigarette lighter, etc. don't work.

Its almost like there is some sort of master relay that powers everything up or for lack of a better desription does one of the relas act as a "circuit breaker" for the whole panel? Its odd that all this would fail at once. I have the service manual set, but its at another house right now and can't check wiring diagrams.

Any thoughts? Thakns.

FLYVMO

Ignition switch or starter relay? It is a common failure point and if it is original it is not a bad idea to replace it.

Cheers!
Carl
90GT Project

z driver 88t

I think the headlights should still raise and lower and turn on even if the ignition switch was bad. No tail lights, no instrument lights, etc.

Its like nothing that should put 12V as an output to the panel is doing it (other than the horn relay).

When I turn the key to the on postion I still get the chime sound.

I do have an extra ignition switch if I need to replace it. I just have a feeling the problem is closer to the panel seeing as how everything was working when I pulled it out.

Mrmerlin

is the 14 pin connector under the hood attached?
Clean the wires at the hot post

Recheck the battery connections,
that is take them off and clean and reseat them,
if still no joy then connect a battery jumper cable to one of the shock tower bolts and then to the negative terminal of the battery see if this makes things work

Landseer

Show pictures of the reassembled panel.

Is small red wire on battery clean / connected?

Randy V

Looks towards Mordor for the answer!

karl ruiter

...and in the darkness fry them.

karl ruiter

...in the footwell panel where the shadows lay.

tilac999

Precious....