I have a 1955 Buick Special. Overnight I have lost all electrical power. No lights, back u lights and the starter button does not work. Everything is dead but the battery is showing 95% Can anyone help me with a diagnosis.
Circuit board? You mean Junction block? Not too familiar with your year and an electrical wizard I am certainly not.
Here's the wiring diagram from Team Buick. You'll have to trace the circuit with a volt meter or test light. Check the battery cables and ground wire first, then check for power at the junction block. Proceed to the 'charge indicator' (ammeter on dash?), then to ignition and light switches. At one of those points you should find a power loss.
I think it’s the ignition switch, I was under neath & found a lose wire not doing anything this flicked across a bit of metal & sparked, so I think it must have energized the light switch as it has a bio metal strip in it Thanks to all who helped Geoff Wallis.
If the circuit up to and including the 'charge indicator' (Ammeter) is good. you should have power at the following: - Red 10 gauge wire at the light switch. - Ignition switch, probably a red wire. - Red 14 gauge wire to the fuse block, powers the clock, trunk, and dome light. - Red 14 gauge wire at the horn relay. Do those items work? In the light switch, there is a metal strip that acts as a circuit breaker (thermo circuit breaker in the drawing).... if there is too much current, the metal strip heats up and opens the contacts.
Hi, I thought I had fixed my Buick but the problem has returned ,to recap There is total electric failure on the car, there is power from the battery to the junction box on the fender , & from there to the starter solenoid & that’s it. There is no power to the ignition switch or to the light switch, so have no lights at all. I am thinking it must be the solenoid or stater relay switch? I have taken the starter motor off ready to have it checked out. I have never had a problem like this before, I hope someone can help thanks Geoff Wallis.
Hi all, I had to get a guy in to solve the problem , it took us a while to find the fault, it was the main cable from the junction box on the fender to the back of the amp meter, the connection was corroded & falling apart & no power was getting through, we bypassed the old wire with a new one, all is now ok, Thank you to all who tried to help thanks again Geoff Wallis.
It looks like all the power, except to the starter, goes to the 'charge indicator' on the dash. Check for power in and out of it. If that is dead, you will have no power to ignition or light switch.
