[DeTomaso] Bad Weekend for Electrical Systems

Richard Greenblum pantera at austin.rr.com
Mon Apr 16 11:23:02 EDT 2007


I'm adding to the list of electrical issues that came up this weekend, and
also need help. I've got a Mallory Unilite and Hyfire box.  Never had any
trouble with them in more than 10 years.

Saturday, I went to bump the starter and didn't realize I didn't have a
ground strap connected.  It sounded like a dead battery--a click but no turn
of the crank.  My helper said he saw sparks somewhere on the passenger side
of the firewall (where of course the electrical stuff is).  Didn't think
about it, just connected up the ground, did some other things, then went to
start it.

I started it, but it wouldn't run below around 1000 rpm.  As I was warming
it up, I turned on one of the Meriah fans (huge draw) and the engine quit.
Tested the battery which had been sitting and it was discharged only putting
out 11.77 volts.  Charged it up, then restarted the car.  Now, it idles, but
turn on the fan and it quits.  If you turn on the fan with it running at
higher rpm (e.g., 2000 or more) it stays running but pops and couldn't pull
any load at all.  Sounds to me like I damaged something that's killing the
voltage to the Hyfire box so when I turn on the fan, there's not enough
juice to fire the plugs.

Any suggestions?  In line ballast resistor, main block wiring, etc.?

Richard
Austin, TX





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