Hello,

I have been scratching my head over this problem for the last three years I have owned this car. The electrical problems seem to occur during starting for the most part. Sometimes when driving, the climate control will change the blower/heat and the windshield wipers will come on. Otherwise, the problem exists when starting the car cold or warm.

I get, 9/10 times, one or a combination of the following symptoms when starting the car.

1. Wipers come on and I have to toggle them off - sometimes they do not park under the cowl completely. Sometimes they go for 3 swipes and stop on their own. It is random what I will get.

2. The radio will not turn on even though it has power. The antenna goes up while waiting for the glow plugs and the radio works until I start the car. When cranking, the radio shuts off but the time is displayed on the faceplate. Pressing the on and off button does not do anything. If I wait 10 minutes or shut the car off and try again, the radio usually starts working again.

3. After starting the car, I have noticed that the climate control no longer functions. It usually comes back in 10-15 minutes or if I restart the car but not always. None of the settings turn the blower on - not even defrost and full speed fan.


The problems I am having scream ground issue to me and I have researched the ground connections, checked and cleaned any that looked corroded. I did this for the two grounds near the headlights and the bushel of grounds behind the dash cluster. No change. I inspected the ground cable going from the starter motor to the frame and it is tight with no corrosion visible outside. I have not removed it yet. I also cleaned the ground cable under the battery when I replaced the battery about 2 1/2 years ago. I have not found any chewn or broken wires on the car, so I don't expect any animals have been in there.

The car starts quickly and the glow plugs seem to do their job well. The GPs were replaced about 3 years ago. I do notice that after the GP light goes out, the wipers will occasionally turn on; this happens before I engage the starter. 9/10, engaging the starter before or after glowing, the above issues will manifest themselves immediately.

Someone please help me see what I am missing or doing wrong. Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot the issue more or at least change the symptoms?

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge