Chrysler Repair: Chrysler Lebaron: lost all electric power, chrysler lebaron, emergency flashers

Question
The starter on my 1993 Lebaron was bad and someone told my dad to cross a screwdriver over the leads on the starter to see if it was the starter that was bad. When he did that I lost all electrical power (radio, dash lights, etc.) We changed the starter, the switch, the computer and it is still not doing anything. Any ideas?

Answer
Hi John,
The diagnosis would best be done with a voltmeter or 12v glow light that you can jump between a wire of interest and any shiny metal surface (ground). If the vehicle seems completely dead then I would begin by checking that the battery isn't shorted out so check its voltage. Then check to see if you have 12V at the fat red wire at the starter motor. If not, then that cable is burned out and it may have taken the fat black wire out that is also attached to the + post of the battery. The wires may be burned through at the + post clamp. Also check to see if you have voltage at fuse #36 in the power distrubution center box under the hood, 20 Amp, as that one also comes direct from the battery and is used to operate the emergency flashers. All those items described above come direct from the battery. Also notice a torpedo shaped black disconnect on the fat black cable attached to the + post clamp (behind the battery). It should also have 12V on it and it is what supplies all the other voltages for the vehicle. (other than the starter and the emergency flashers). It seems to be as if you either burned out those + clamp wires at the clamp or the battery is shorted out or discharged.
"jumping" at the starter motor couldn't have affected anything else Than what I have described.
Roland