When I shut off my motor and removed the key, I noticed what sounds like the flasher slowly blinking. I also noticed the light in the gear position indicator blinking on and off. It used to do this for 5-10 blinks, then stop. Its getting worse.

It lasted for over 30 minutes Sunday, so I decided to disconnect the battery to keep from frying something. When I loosened the nut on the positive terminal (I didn't have to remove it), everything stopped.

I drove the car to work today. When I got here, I noticed it doing the same thing again. Any ideas what it could be?

 

Go to the FAQ section and locate a wiring diagram for your car. I took a look at my paper copy and that circuit has no electrical contact with anything that flashes. That leaves the proverbial 'short', probably with-in a harness or at a connector as a problem. The question to you is - what did you do previous to this occurance? Which flasher?
Jim

 

i had a short recently. here is my experience. i had a couple of probs. faulty spark plug wires was one prob, but not the main one. the weld that held the condensor on to the little grounding plate had broken somehow and since it wasnt being grounded my points got burned. car still started and ran, but i couldnt go over 35. new points, new condensor, new spark plug wires and maybe a solenoid (sp?)too.

 

Previous to this occurance, I did plenty. And I'm not sure its the flasher making the noise. I'm just hearing some type of click. I can't tell if the gauges are coming on and off as well, but I think they might be. The strange part is that it stops on its own after a few minutes. Also, when the key is on, everything works as it should.

I just finished with my power steering upgrade. While the motor was out, I painted the firewall. I pushed the steering column up into the car to get it out of my way. When I did, I hurt a couple wires coming out of the column and into a connector block. One was green, the other yellow. I think the yellow wire went to the horn.

Now that the car is back together, turn signals, emergency flashers, and horn all work, so I'm assuming I got the wires back together OK.

The previous owner installed a AM/FM/CD in a nice box on the floorboard. He ran the power wire out the hole the accelerator pedal uses and to the solenoid for power. I just moved it to a post on the back of the ignition switch. I've felt to see I have wires from different posts touching, but didn't feel anything. I guess I should get my fat pile of goo under the dash for a look-see.

 

And get a wiring diagram.
Jim

 

FYI, although intersting, these are considered Ignition system problems and really have nothing to do with described problem. Pretty rare that a condensor base broke off. I'm surprised that you were able to get 35 out of it.
Cheers