<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">As you know, intermittent electrical problems are some of the most difficult to track down.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">About your only course of action is when it happens, try to monitor/measure all possible factors before you restart. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Do any of the gauges or indicator lights indicate any problem when it occurs? Any audible clicks or pops? Does it only happen when it is hot outside, cold outside, wet outside, etc. Trying to find any common factor for the moment when the failure occurs could help you start to track it down.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I know it seems unlikely, but if turning the ignition switch seems to solve the problem, it could be the ignition switch (I have had two ignition switches fail intermittently, so I am attentive to that possibility).</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">You almost have to hope that whatever it is that fails briefly will fail permanently so that you can track it down.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">If it always occurred when you hit a bump (electrical connection) or after the engine had been running for an hour or so (overheated component), etc., you could start to track things down, but it seems totally random.</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 1:53 AM john niolon <<a href="mailto:jniolon@att.net">jniolon@att.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<div><font face="Segoe UI">Hey Moose, thanks for the reply. Harness was done by a pro that does it for a living...He is meticulous. He completely strips everything</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">from the car then starts from a blank slate... Everything new.. Nice looms and grommets at every hole and hides as much of it as he can.</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">Every component was new and oem or better... no import crap. I'm of the same opinion as you afa a short to ground but it's gotta be hidden inside something</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">that we can't see.</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">Someone on my ford forum suggested putting a volt meter in the circuit and watch the voltage for a drop...but you're so busy trying to get out of traffic and not</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">get plowed it's difficult to remember to watch the meter.... and yes this has been going on for over a year...intermittently and even after all the changes... it persists</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">john</font></div>
<div> </div>
<blockquote style="padding:0px 0px 0px 0.5em;border-left:1px solid rgb(199,229,255);margin:0px 0px 0px 0.5em">
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>----- Original Message -----</b></div>
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>From:</b> <<a href="mailto:eric@megageek.com" target="_blank">eric@megageek.com</a>></div>
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>To:</b> shop-talk <<a href="mailto:shop-talk@autox.team.net" target="_blank">shop-talk@autox.team.net</a>></div>
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Cc:</b> john niolon <<a href="mailto:jniolon@att.net" target="_blank">jniolon@att.net</a>></div>
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Sent:</b> 05/19/2026 4:40:59 PM</div>
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem</div>
<hr style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;height:1px;color:rgb(204,204,204);background-color:rgb(204,204,204)">
<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Segoe UI";font-weight:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">John, I would have bet money it was a hidden wire short somewhere. It had all the Hallmarks. But you stated the wiring harness what completely replaced. So, that rules that out...</span> <br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Or does it?</span> <br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">My question, when you said 'headlight to taillight', that is complete. BUT was there ANY wire that was in that car that wasn't part of the harness?</span> <br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Something in dash, neutral switch, tranny indicator, or some other component?</span> <br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">I'm still betting on a wire short, but I guess it could be a short inside a component. Maybe inside the alt or other part?</span> <br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">BTW, I'm assuming it was doing this, before you did all these mods, right? </span><br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Anyway, that is a stumper.</span> <br><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Moose</span> <br><br><br><br><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(95,95,95)">From: </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif">"john niolon" <<a href="mailto:jniolon@att.net" target="_blank">jniolon@att.net</a>></span> <br><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(95,95,95)">To: </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif">"shop-talk" <<a href="mailto:shop-talk@autox.team.net" target="_blank">shop-talk@autox.team.net</a>></span> <br><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(95,95,95)">Date: </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif">05/19/2026 13:16</span> <br><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(95,95,95)">Subject: </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif">[Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem</span> <br><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif;color:rgb(95,95,95)">Sent by: </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:sans-serif">"Shop-talk" <<a href="mailto:shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net" target="_blank">shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net</a>></span> <br>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Strange automotive electrical problem we need help with…</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">55 chevy automatic with 383 stroker motor, carbed, p/s,p/b,a/c</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Dakota digital dash system including neutral safety switch and</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Transmission gear indicator</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">When it is running right, it’s scary strong. Cruises nicely.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Problem… when driving the engine dies like you cut it off…BUT will start back up</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Immediately and run perfectly till the next time it does it. Might be 15 minutes…15 days or</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">three month later. Might do it 4 times in a row or once and not repeat. Speed does not effect it. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Engine temp does not effect it… does it hot or cold. With the a/c on or off. It does not have a</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Cutoff switch in the system. Longest period with no failure is 7 months… shortest was 4 minutes.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">When it stalls we checked fuel by looking in the bowl of carb and gas is spraying as it should</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">So we are assuming electrical of some sort. So far we’ve done the following…</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Replaced battery with new red top optima battery and all new battery cables (2 gauge I think)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Replaced all ground cables frame/block… frame/chassis with 2/0 welding cable with new crimped</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">connectors and clean, bare metal attachment points</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">replaced ignition switch (twice… first with import then with oem switch)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">replaced coil and distributor with MSD system with spark control box, separate coil and distributor…</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">it was taken from running vehicle. It's doing the same thing as the original ignition system.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Replaced complete wiring harness…headlight to taillight with new Autowire harness…including all</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Switches and relays. Professionally done.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Everything else electrical works without a glitch… we are at the wall here…</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">Ideas, suggestions, calculated wild a** guesses welcomed… </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">thanks</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt"></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri">john</span></p>
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