Hi, I am a new guy here and have read for hours some of the replys from some of the members, I just picked up a 94 Eldorado that has sat for a little over a year. The lady I bought it from parked it because she said the cooling fan wasn't coming on, but ran fine. After towing it home, I charged the battery and it won't cranck, I cleaned the cables (coroded) and put a known good battery in it, when I try to crank it i am not getting any power to the purple wire that goes to the starter. Also I noticed that the dash lights and interior lights aren't that bright, I pulled the lighter and checked the voltage there and it was 13.2 while charging. After a while the info display came on and the radio would work, but briefly, it was like it was running out of power, I also noticed that when I step on the brake the dash lights/interior lights dim and the info display goes out along with the radio display, like it has a weak battery. I checked at the fuse block in trunk and I am getting same voltage (13.2) and also under the hood fuse block. It seems like there is alot of resistance somewhere, is this common on these to have a plug/connector corode, or does it sound more like a ignition switch that isn't making enough contact (coroded) but enough to light some of the info lights like the CES and the ABS and airbag lights. When I do try to crank it the lights will get a bit brighter on the dash, and the speedometer starts to climb to about 50-60mph. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
AL

 

Do you have power to yellow wire at prndl swith on trans? Check condition of grounds. Are any codes stored?

 

I found a starter relay in the left side under the sill plate, it was getting power from the heavier yellow wire, and also the smaller yellow wire when I tried cranking it. I jumped the relay and it cranked. After a few seconds, it fired, but still now while it is cranking it has a hard knocking sound, sorta like a rod, but as soon as it fires it goes away. Thinking maybe starter isn't meshing with flywheel?? Thanks in advance.

AL

 

I think I have narrowed down the knocking sound, with a fresh battery it isn't as noticable, but is there even while its running you can hear something. It sounds like its coming from the tensioner/idler pulleys, is this common for these cars? Also I get a ABS light coming on, I know it isnt related at all, what is the best way to check that out? Also as posted in earlier post, previous owner said that the cooling fans weren't coming on, I searched and found that it should come on around 228 degrees, I don't have insurance on this thing yet so I really don't want to drive it around, but after sitting idling the hottest it would get is 220, I talked to her again and she told me that she just thought it was running hot, never got any warnings or anything and she had a local mechanic look at it and said that it should be running about 210-225, I found that seems on the low side for city driving. Is there any way I can test the fans without it getting up to temp? I checked the grounds and power wires for the relays, and everything seems ok, I plan to flush antifreeze soon, I was going to replace the temp sensor on it while I have it empty, I just can't find it...lol. The freon is very low and the compressor isn't coming on so the fans don't come on when you turn the A/C on. Sorry for the different questions in one post.

Thanks,
AL