Electrical suddenly dead
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- 356 Fan
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Electrical suddenly dead
Hello,
I have a 1965 356c since a year. And my first post on the forum.
Drove it in my neighbourhood late with all lights on. Including the fog lights. After 2 minutes the engine shuts off. Can not start the engine and nothing works on the car.
The battery and connections are good, checked the ground strap and that is good.
How to fix this. Thanks for your help.
I have a 1965 356c since a year. And my first post on the forum.
Drove it in my neighbourhood late with all lights on. Including the fog lights. After 2 minutes the engine shuts off. Can not start the engine and nothing works on the car.
The battery and connections are good, checked the ground strap and that is good.
How to fix this. Thanks for your help.
- David Jones
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
Check the smaller red wire on the positive terminal of the battery. If that does not make good contact that will cause your problem. For electrical circuit information refer to the registry web site tech info and wiring diagrams.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
Go to this page for 356 Electrics books. https://porsche356registry.org/content. ... _id=508436
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
Hello DaveDavid Jones wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 12:16 pm Check the smaller red wire on the positive terminal of the battery. If that does not make good contact that will cause your problem. For electrical circuit information refer to the registry web site tech info and wiring diagrams.
I will check this.
I took a quick look on the troubleshooting guide and there is an explanation for each component but did not found an explanation/fix on a complete shut off.
Thanks for your help
- C J Murray
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
It could be a sudden catastrophic battery failure. That happens sometimes, like when my wife used my 5 year old Corvette Z06 to visit some friends and the car died at the toll booth. Unhappy wife! It ran fine until the engine speed went to idle and the alternator didn't provide enough juice.
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- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:04 pm
- Location: Drummondville, Quebec
Re: Electrical suddenly dead
The wire from the +pole to the fuse box is good. There is 12 volt.David Jones wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 12:16 pm Check the smaller red wire on the positive terminal of the battery. If that does not make good contact that will cause your problem. For electrical circuit information refer to the registry web site tech info and wiring diagrams.
Can the key switch has an sudden failure that shuts off everything while driving?
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
The battery is good but changed with an other to be sure. Same problemC J Murray wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 1:08 pm It could be a sudden catastrophic battery failure. That happens sometimes, like when my wife used my 5 year old Corvette Z06 to visit some friends and the car died at the toll booth. Unhappy wife! It ran fine until the engine speed went to idle and the alternator didn't provide enough juice.
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
The red cable goes to fuse number 2. Removed the fuse and it is broken. You have to remove it to see it.
Hopefully a new fuse will fix it.
Thanks
Hopefully a new fuse will fix it.
Thanks
- Ken Tuvman
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
Or a short caused fuse to blowNicolas Derumeaux wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 1:32 pm The red cable goes to fuse number 2. Removed the fuse and it is broken. You have to remove it to see it.
Hopefully a new fuse will fix it.
Thanks
Try replacing fuse & drive with all lights off & if all good, turn on fog lights & if all good turn on headlights
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- Mike Wilson
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
And make sure the fuse is the correct amperage.
Mike
Mike
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Lomita, CA
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
New fuse in (16amp) and things are working now.
I will test the headlights and fogs. Thanks for the tip
Thanks David for pointing me in the right direction
During my search I checked the ignition switch and while removing it from the dash the red and black wire disconnected from the switch. I’m not sure that they are now on the right place. Somebody has a picture from the switch with de wires at the right place (356c)?
I will test the headlights and fogs. Thanks for the tip
Thanks David for pointing me in the right direction
During my search I checked the ignition switch and while removing it from the dash the red and black wire disconnected from the switch. I’m not sure that they are now on the right place. Somebody has a picture from the switch with de wires at the right place (356c)?
- Paul S Zuchowski
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
There is a great document out in the technical library that will show you what you are looking for. Go back to the Registry home page, then "technical", then "technical library" then scroll to the bottom of the page. Click on 356 Electrics Downloads.
- Jon Schmid
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
I've had this happen to me twice over the years, once in my 356 coupe and once in my old Chevy S-10 Blazer. Blazer problem: Sudden dead short between two battery cells-no warning but dead as a doornail. Coupe: As mentioned above, a "magically" loose battery cable. Killed the car completely. Luckily, as I was on my way home from work, I was able to wedge the cable back onto the battery terminal enough to limp home for proper repairs. Good luck!!
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
Ignition switch is fixed also.
Good to go
Thanks again
Good to go
Thanks again
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Electrical suddenly dead
Most of the electricss are powered by the red wire that goes from the battery to fuse block 2-3-4, from there it goes to 30 on the lights switch, from there it goes to 30 on the ignition switch. If that cable gets disconnected all the electric system fails. The large black cable from the battery is there only to power the starter and to charge the battery.
Fuse 2 is only for the clock and cigar lighter. I think the fuse you are using is to large if your car has been converted to 12V.
If you want to know about the Electric system of your car, read Greg Bryan´s articles on 356 Wiring. Lots of diagrams and information, troubleshooting etc.
Here a list of the articles, Just go to MEDIA CENTER - Magazines and look for the magazine you need.
356 Wiring by Greg Bryan
356 Wiring Vol 38#1 May / June 2014
Turn Signals and Brake Lights Vol 38#2 July / August 2014
Instruments and Warning Lights Vol 38#3 September / October 2014
Parking Lights and Instrument Ilumination Vol 38#4 November / December 2014
Headlights 356 B 356 C Vol 38#5 January / February 2015
Headlight Circuit Troubleshooting Vol 38#6 March / April 2015
Fuse Box Ins and Outs Vol 39#1 May / June 2015
The Fog Light Circuit Vol 39#2 July / August 2015
The Ignition System Vol 39#3 September / October 2015
The Starting System Vol 39#5 January / February 2016
The Charging System #1 Vol 39#6 March / April 2016
The Charging System #2 Vol 40#2 July / August 2016
Interior Lights Vol 40#3 September / October 2016
Back Uo Lights and Sunroof Vol 40#4 November/ December 2016
Harnesses Vol 40#6 March / April 2017
6 to 12 Volt Conversion Vol 41#1 May / June 2017
Automotive Electrical Testing Vol 41#5 January / February 2018
Fuse 2 is only for the clock and cigar lighter. I think the fuse you are using is to large if your car has been converted to 12V.
If you want to know about the Electric system of your car, read Greg Bryan´s articles on 356 Wiring. Lots of diagrams and information, troubleshooting etc.
Here a list of the articles, Just go to MEDIA CENTER - Magazines and look for the magazine you need.
356 Wiring by Greg Bryan
356 Wiring Vol 38#1 May / June 2014
Turn Signals and Brake Lights Vol 38#2 July / August 2014
Instruments and Warning Lights Vol 38#3 September / October 2014
Parking Lights and Instrument Ilumination Vol 38#4 November / December 2014
Headlights 356 B 356 C Vol 38#5 January / February 2015
Headlight Circuit Troubleshooting Vol 38#6 March / April 2015
Fuse Box Ins and Outs Vol 39#1 May / June 2015
The Fog Light Circuit Vol 39#2 July / August 2015
The Ignition System Vol 39#3 September / October 2015
The Starting System Vol 39#5 January / February 2016
The Charging System #1 Vol 39#6 March / April 2016
The Charging System #2 Vol 40#2 July / August 2016
Interior Lights Vol 40#3 September / October 2016
Back Uo Lights and Sunroof Vol 40#4 November/ December 2016
Harnesses Vol 40#6 March / April 2017
6 to 12 Volt Conversion Vol 41#1 May / June 2017
Automotive Electrical Testing Vol 41#5 January / February 2018