No Power At All: Suggestions...?

[Nghty89]

I began by trying to replace my bad starter with a new one. Big mistake, seeing as my big hands wont fit in next to the second bolt. I had the first bolt off (the easy to reach one), and the two connections to the starter off. I put everything back so a shop could do the starter, and I have no power at all.
The motor is a JDM 7mgte with 40,000 miles on her. The body has 177,xxx and R154. I checked all of the fuses under the hood on the driver side, and the driver side kick panel, they're fine. I checked the cables on the battery, they're not too corroded and the terminals are alright. I will be replacing them both. I need to check the fuse box wire to see if it is corroded as well. My next step will be to connect a ground from the neg. terminal to a ground on the engine and see if I can get lights or something.
Any and all suggestions are welcome and much appreciated. I am combing through the Hanes Repair Manual, TEWD, and TSRM for schematics and other helpful tid-bits as well. I have read quite a few posts on the dead car issue, hence my course of action up to now. My last question is, is there a main relay or fuse I am missing? Everything worked just fine before I tried this and I only disconnected the battery, the two wires to the starter (the square plug and the signal wire), and the easier to reach bolt. I put them all back in properly...

 

[IwantMKIII]

Im not positive how stock is setup but on my setup one cable from the battery to the starter and another from starter to alternator should ensure you're making the proper connections that you could've fooled with.

 

[JesseH]

Im not positive how stock is setup but on my setup one cable from the battery to the starter and another from starter to alternator should ensure you're making the proper connections that you could've fooled with.

yea, you should have a second power wire, the one to your starter and the other goes into the fuse box to the ALT fuse then to the alternator

 

[Supra-K]

id first go get your battery tested first, could save some time and hassel, for example, I was eating dinner with some friends and my firend calls me up, he tells me his car doesnt have any power and it was working fine a hour ago before he went into a store, I asked how old the battery was, fuse, relays, etc., well I come to find out his battery was crap and that was all that was needed to up and running again, this may not be your case but it could save a lot of time a money if it is the problem, I know autozone checks for free, but they are typically idiots so you can always check yourself. hope this helps

 

[Selz202]

Check the fusable link in the box in the engine compartment... its a wire type looking fuse if I remember correctly.

Tim

 

[Nghty89]

Thank you, that gives me a place to start. The battery is fine, we even tried to jump it with another mkIII just in case mine needed the encoragement :biglaugh:

 

[suprastanger507mgte]

Okay, there is a approximately 10 gauge wire ( possibly a fusible link) that is bolted together with your Positive battery terminal. The fat positive wire goes to the starter, but the thinner ( 10 gauge) wire is bolted to the terminal and it goes to the fusebox/harness part. These break off pretty easily as they are quite old and brittle. Im sure that is what is broken and this supplies the power to the whole car. Sometimes they end up hinding inside the harness sheeting so look carefully.
And no, this is not the ALT fusible link ( check this one too. Newer models had a 100 amp fuse instead of the fusible link)

 

[Nghty89]

I will be trying that. I am heading over there on my lunch break with a multi-meter to check grounds and where power is stopping. Hopefully I can get her up and running, otherwise I'll be in the parking lot after work fixing her wiring up. I know it's simple, just a pain. Thank you though, that is a great help!

 

[Nghty89]

Turns out the fuse box 10 gauge wire was corroded away on the inside. I replaced it and she started fine. Thanks for the information and help!