1998 Buick Regal 1998 Buick electrical problems

Tiny
DOCKRAT100
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 BUICK REGAL
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
I have a 1998 Buick Regal that had a bad ignition switch, I thought.

(1998 Buick regal has no power to the fuse block for several circuits. Heated mirror, cruise control, hvac and low blower circuits are all dead. Naturally, my cruise control, air conditioning system, and low beam headlights do not work.)

I replaced the ignition switch with one from a boneyard, and now the fuses that are dead are:
power drop
bcm
wiper
crank signal bcm cluster
heated mirror
steering wheel controls

Did I get the wrong ignition switch or is this one bad too? This one came with a white plunger this witha 2 wire connector on it. Not sure what it is for. My car has the shifter on the floor.
Monday, August 16th, 2010 AT 7:35 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
What led you to ignition switch to start with?
Have you checked the fusible links?
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Monday, August 16th, 2010 AT 7:55 PM
Tiny
DOCKRAT100
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I had several circuits dead at the fuse block before replacing the ignition switch.
Hvac
cruise control
heated mirror
low blower
and low beam headlights don't work.

Were all dead. I was told here that since I had no power from the orange wire of the ignition switch that the ignition switch was bad.

Yes, I checked the fusible links, all are good.
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Monday, August 16th, 2010 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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You checked power coming out of the switch but not going in.

Check all the maxi fuses in the engine compartment, especially the 60amp marked BAT#1
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Monday, August 16th, 2010 AT 8:17 PM
Tiny
DOCKRAT100
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All the maxi fuses are hot, including the bat1

What is this white and metal thin that the ignition switch arrived plugged into? Why don't I see it on my care somewhere?
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Thursday, August 19th, 2010 AT 4:45 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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I have no idea what your talking about
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Thursday, August 19th, 2010 AT 5:19 PM
Tiny
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I bought an ignition switch from a boneyard, and it was shipped to me. When it arrived, I noticed it had a 2 wire connector attached to some sort of plastic and metal part that I cannot find on my car. The part has 2 plungers, so if I push one in, the other pulls in. I thought perhaps they sent me the wrong ignition switch, and that was why I had some systems not working now that worked before.

The 2 wire connector is also on my old ignition switch, but is not used. I can't figure out what this little plunger thing is, or if it is even relevant.
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Friday, August 20th, 2010 AT 6:05 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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That's what happens when you deal with junkyard parts.
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Friday, August 20th, 2010 AT 6:54 AM
Tiny
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Found the right ignition switch, and that fixed most of the problems. Seems the salvage part was bad or wrong.
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Saturday, August 21st, 2010 AT 8:07 PM

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