V1 #180, SpeedHacks City, 06' SS, Take 2

[speedhacks]

Most of the built in relays in my fuse box have failed. About the only one left was the low beam. Most of my lighting is is ran off of added fuse panels and relays. I replaced the fuse box this evening and will have to decide if I want to rewire to feed it off the factory fuse box.

Wow! That is incredibly frustrating! I take it the internal relays are non user serviceable?

 

[speedhacks]

I'll check some grounds tomorrow just to be sure I'm not missing anything. The parking and running lights aren't working either. I might be brave enough to desolder and replace the relays if I can get to them.

 

[Gtstorey]

Not easily. If you could find some you would have to resoldier them in. I looked a little but didn’t a source for them. You might get a used fuse box from a base Cobalt and swap the relays from it. Or the base fuse panel can be made to work by swapping a few circuits around (at least on the TC)

 

[speedhacks]

Doh. One of the screws in the fuse box was missed. Figured it out when I couldn't even run the fuel pump manually or start the car.

All seems better now. Though the backup lights are not going off and the tail lights don't come on when I turn the lights on.

Brake lights work though. Probably got a wire crossed.

 

[Gtstorey]

As I pointed out in my no start problem thread, I would go over each of your individual wire connectors on the back of your fuse box and tighten them up. The connector blocks really aren't designed to be taken apart multiple times, and they get loose.

 

[speedhacks]

Parking lights still nada. I remember snipping this off by accident and putting it back in so at least somewhat familiar. No voltage on this brown wire that feeds all the parking lights / etc...

Circuit 9 has voltage. Maybe something internal to the BCM isn't sending out voltage.

 

[Gtstorey]

It could still be the internal relays if you haven't eliminated that as a problem. I confirmed that several of mine weren't functioning by applying power directly to the contacts of the circuit board. I'm pretty sure all of the exterior lights are fed by the main fuse panel with the BCM only powering or grounding the relays.

 

[speedhacks]

Thank you for your guidance! It's nice to have some help this far along. So not sure what the difference is, but decided to take a look at the fuse box near the rear again. I vaguely remember completely removing the parking light wires at the rear.

Those wires work as expected. Not sure what's up with the BCM and trying to pull the parking circuit there.

All is working great now. I think the only thing left is the reverse lights stuck on. Even tried unplugging the reverse sensor plug off the transmission. I see voltage on the wire(s) and the fuse when the key is on. It is possible there's a relay stuck there. I don't know yet.

 

[speedhacks]

Had the parking lights wired here originally.

 

[speedhacks]

Purple plug bit me twice. I swore I had it right... I should have double checked it. Wasn't until I pinned the switch connector and traced it back to... You guessed it. That pesky 8-pin purple plug.

 

[speedhacks]

To Do. I'll solder up everything, finish and wire tie the harness in place now and move on to putting the fuel filter and line in its final resting spot. This weekend, steering wheel, shifter and seats in. That is the plan.

 

[speedhacks]

Alright so I received the new DF steering wheel that is a quick detatch. Looked all over and couldn't find out how to do this.

Finally clicked for me on what the other screws were for in the box.

 

[speedhacks]

We are doing an autocross practice day next weekend and one of my “tests” will be sway bar vs no sway bar. I’ll report next week on it.

How did the sway bar results turn out

 

[Rttoys]

How did the sway bar results turn out

Sorry about that. I gave Ross a report but didn’t reply here.

So sway bar vs no sway.

No sway bar the car rolls a lot. This seem to help on long sweepers as the car settles well on the tires, but not on transitions or slaloms. You really fight the rolls. With Sway bar, everything was tighter. The long sweepers still held well and made the back end much more predictable. Transitions and slaloms the car points and shoots. Overall, pro sway.

Back to back to back runs, I was over half a second slower without the sway bar and I worked at it to make that happen. Even if times were the same, the effort was much less to keep the car under control with a sway bar.

 

[speedhacks]

Not much tonight.
Finished up the rear wiring. Brakes, turn signals, backup lights, license plate lights all g2g.

Fuel filter mounted, for now. Trimmed line.

Steering wheel is in.

Ordered transmission fluid to replace what was lost when I pulled the axles.
I should probably change the oil at some point. No idea of history on it and would make me feel better.

Todo, finish wire wrapping for the front. Zip tie everything in. Finish wiring speakers and wideband.
Bleed brakes and clutch.
Hook up shift cables
Hook up parking brake cables
Install seats
Put wheels on and give it a test ride?

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Don't run the fluids that we're in the donor, change them all for your peace of mind. There is no telling when the last time they were changed...if they ever were? And great progress!

 

[speedhacks]

Don't run the fluids that we're in the donor, change them all for your peace of mind. There is no telling when the last time they were changed...if they ever were? And great progress!

New oil in this morning. New filter. Easy. Glad I bought 6 quarts! As soon as I pulled the plug and saw the dark oil I was like. Yup.... Right decision.

Fresh gas in. She runs great!! Fired it up this morning in over a year (and only had it running for a few seconds because without the MAF the engine dies quickly). Woke the neighborhood. Decided it was time for the muffler to go on lol. Done.

Ran for 10min no issues. No odd sounds. I am so relieved. Then went to work on the supercharger plumbing. Long story short, took a bath in coolant. My favorite! Tightened up a bunch of hose clamps. Seems good now. Will monitor. Pump works great.

Original owner did not tighten at all the rear brake T. It was my responsibility to check and I didn't. Fluid all the way up the tunnel.

I want to keep working on it. But will stop for today.
Fellas out there, careful balance of car time and family time lol

 

[speedhacks]

 

[speedhacks]

The Weller got a workout today. Headlights done. Got a few other things I need to solder up. Speakers and mirrors. Still gotta bleed fluids. Install tunnel and shifter.

Probably two week hiatus coming up. I'm in Arizona next week to work on my racing skill and hopefully get my SCCA licensing. Enrolled at Radford racing school (formerly Bondourant).

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

View attachment 27597

The Weller got a workout today. Headlights done. Got a few other things I need to solder up. Speakers and mirrors. Still gotta bleed fluids. Install tunnel and shifter.

Probably two week hiatus coming up. I'm in Arizona next week to work on my racing skill and hopefully get my SCCA licensing. Enrolled at Radford racing school (formerly Bondourant).

That will be a great experience at Wild Horse Pass. Great track and the weather should be excellent in the mid-80s. Oh, and the casino is right next to it for good food and entertainment. Keep us updated.