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Thread: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

  1. #1
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    No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    Radio, headlights, blower motor, brake lights all work. Im figuring its an Ignition switch issue, but I throwing it out there nay way...



  2. #2


    Join Date
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    Re: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    Get a meter out start poking around. ECU is fused I would look there off hand since you have no dash lights. Switch could always be a problem.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
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  3. #3
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    Re: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    Thanks.. the ECU has crossed my mind.....

  4. #4


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    Re: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    But if its cranking you need 3 things. Spark,fuel and all at the right time. Might want to check for spark first then see if the fuel pump is coming on. The main relay goes bad in these cars alot.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
    336k miles running strong!
    Now running E85.

    Oldblueaccord <<< MY YOUTUBE PAGE!

  5. #5
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    Re: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    She is cranking, and NO spark, thats what got me thinking about the ignition switch........ and then after looking at the relay schematic...... yeah, time to get my multi meter out

    The "main relay" is really 2 relays inside one plastic case. You can't automatically rule this out 'cause it's possible one works & the other doesn't.

    One relay is more likely to fail, it's the one that switches power to the fuel pump.

    The other relay switches power to the ECU, including the check-engine lamp; and also switches power for most of the solenoids & several sensors.
    Awesome this jives with the symptoms....... no juice to ECU, no power for dash instrumentality's or spark to coil...... Ill listen for the click and fuel pump when I turn the key on.
    Last edited by Blainethemono; 10-22-2019 at 01:26 PM.

  6. #6
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    Re: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    Fuel pump not coming on. Replaced Main relay. No effect. Still no CEL nor light Codes from ECU. ECU dark
    Last edited by Blainethemono; 11-17-2019 at 04:48 PM.

  7. #7

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Re: No Dash Lights, Gen light CEL, Car cranks, wont start

    Wait, you don't have fuel OR spark? You got a twofer! Look farther upstream, like a really big fuse or big relay in the underhood fuse box. My money is on the main fuse.
    Last edited by Dr_Snooz; 11-18-2019 at 08:42 PM.
    Dr_Snooz

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