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About Rob Painter
Expertise
Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience
Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

You are here: Experts > Shopping > Vintage Cars > Cadillac Repair > Only my headlights work

Cadillac Repair - Only my headlights work

Expert: Rob Painter - 11/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1980 cadillac deville 4.1 liter V6, I'm having an electrical issue. Only my headlights work, the dome, rears, brake all turn signals, seats, hood actuator and radio don't work. I've checked all of the fuses and replaced both 30 amp breakers on the fuse block. I read in a chilton's cadillac manual that there might be another 30 amp breaker on the firewall but I can't find it if there is one. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Hello,

I should be getting commission from http://www.alldata.com. You should be able to get the info you need there.

You need to check the junction block at the driver's side of the firewall under the dash. Remove the 7/16 head bolt and pull connector apart. Spray with die-electric grease and reinstall. That may fix you up.

Rob

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, I found the original problem, I had a short on the fuse block itself preventing the 30 amp breaker to feed the lower half components, I have fixed that issue but now have another problem, In the process of lowering the fuse block I snapped some of the wires that go to the side fisher body control plug on the right side of the fuse block. If you could tell me what order they go in from top to bottom (color wise) I could solder then back and get on the road again....thanks again

Answer
Hello,

Unfortunately, I no longer have books that old anymore and suggested alldata. If it goes back that far, you will have everything you need plus lots more!! There is thousands of dollars worth of info for a subscription price of about $30.

Not real sure, but if does not go back that old, I think you can get basically the same wiring in the area you are referring to up to a 87' Fleetwood Brougham. Make sure you are dealing with a rear wheel drive because the regular Fleetwood is FWD.

Good Luck!

Rob

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