Fuel/ electrical problems

Tiny
OHKNOWU812
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 200,000 MILES
Rough idle sometimes no start. Changed fuel pump, fuel filter. Same issue. Scanned codes got tps and map errors. Changed both. Same issues. Won't stay running can hear fuel pump humming but as soon as brake is pushed it cuts of fuel pump and car dies. And really weird things are going on with tail lights and head lights. Key out of ignition push break you hear a bell sound. I have no clue what's happening. Please any suggestions.
Saturday, March 10th, 2018 AT 8:24 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,888 POSTS
The multitude of symptoms suggest there is a broken ground wire in the rear of the car. The fuel pump may be finding a ground through the brake lights and tail lights. The way I would approach this is to pick just one circuit and concentrate on that. Start with the brake lights and observe if they are full, normal brightness. Use a stick between the seat and brake pedal to hold the brake lights on, then measure the voltages on all of the wires on one of the brake light bulbs. You should find twelve volts on just one of them, and zero volts on both of the other wires. If you do not find two wires with zero volts, remove the bulb, then see which terminal in the socket has twelve volts. That is the one to ignore. Look at the other wires to see which is the ground wire. Follow that to where it bolts to the body. It will have a break somewhere. If you cannot figure out which is the ground wire, I will dig up a wiring diagram to help with that. If this car uses the newer 3057 bulbs with the flat plastic base, those sockets usually have labels molded into them near where the wires go in.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2018 AT 6:32 PM
Tiny
OHKNOWU812
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you for your help.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2018 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,888 POSTS
You are welcome. Keep me posted on your progress. I will be back tomorrow to see how you are doing.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2018 AT 7:36 PM

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