MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

I've got a '91 olds cutlass/3300 V6 that doesn't want to start. It had to be jump started once in a while previously until finally I parked it one day and it wouldn't start again. I had the battery tested at a few local auto parts places all of which the results came back that the battery was totally shot (which I expected). So I bought a new battery for it.

Now Ive got nothing. No interior lights, no power to anything. Yes, the new battery is hooked up. I checked the grounds that I can see, and they look fine/clean/tight.

Any ideas? It's parked out on the street (currently snowing like a **** outside), so I thought I'd throw this up while Im waiting for the snow to stop so I can start messing around under the hood.

Thanks in advance!

gectek

iTrader: (2)

First round would be to check the connection from the batt to the fuse block underhood. From there check all fuses. Sometimes there is a fusible link that will melt as well. I would check those first. Its very possible the key switch is bad as well.

Those are a few places to look. Is there any security light?

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

Nope no security light (or any lights whatsoever anywhere on the car) but I believe I found the source of the problem. I have attached a crude drawing of what I've found.

There's a positive and negative wire coming out of the wiring harness that aren't plugged in to anything. They are clean on the ends so this leads me to believe they must have been "pulled out" accidently when the battery was replaced. However, I cant see anywhere where they would plug in to. Perhaps the fuse box? The ends on the loose wires are the flat style "tabs" (not sure the technical word for them).

gectek

iTrader: (2)

looks like one goes to ground and the other prob powers the fuse box. those are my guesses.

wrencher

iTrader: (2)

Those are prolly to fusable links. Those older cars didn't have much in the way of underhood fuse boxes.
It has a battery junction box with fusable links though.
Where the end of those wires green w corrosion?

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

No, they looked clean. At a quick glance I didn't see a fuse box either.

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

Still havent gotten around to figuring out the oldsmobile but I did take the time to snap a few quick pictures of whats going on. Maybe someone can figure this out.

The first 3 pictures attached are of the two loose wires/connectors that are coming out of were the battery terminals merge. The third picture is the two terminals where I found them hanging loose at.

I dont know what the second two pictures show, but I noticed this loose with a missing "cap" near the battery as well (the cap was lying near the end of the wire shown in the last 2 pictures.)

gectek

iTrader: (2)

Put those pics in photobucket or image shack and post the links. the attachment is not working.

FiredUpZ28

Definately sounds like a connection issue if the battery is new. You should have lights at the very least.

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

I attached some pics in a post thats a few posts above. There are 2 loose connections and I cant figure out where they go to save my life.