Nissan Repair: 2004 Olds Alero, olds alero, fuse box

Question
QUESTION: I went to the auto wreckers to fix my door counsel; that worked!!! When I tried to start the van to go home ...... NO DASH LIGHTS; NO START! Damn modern cars.

ANSWER: Uncle4257,

If you shorted something while working on the console you might have blown a fuse.  I would check at the positive battery cable at the battery to see if a master fuse or fuse link was blown.  This could also be the ignition fuse at the fuse box, under the hood.  No dash lights could be caused by this too.  Most of the time the instrument lights blow is due to a fuse, the dimmer or the headlight switch itself.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My olds 2004 alero won't start. Bought a new starter and it still won't engage the flywheel. Won't turn over???
It does nothing!!!


Answer
uncle4257,

There is a fuse link wire that connects the starter wire to the starter.  Basically, the last foot of wire that comes to the starter is a fuse link.  If the battery was low or the starter was dragging it would cause the wire to melt.  If you get under the car and get a test light to the start wire and have someone turn the car to start you will probably not get any power.  If this is the case you need to strip back the harness until you get to where the fuse link is soldered to the harness and replace it.  Email me back and let me know what you find.  I worked at Chevrolet and many new cars, with low batteries, caused this fuse link to blow.  I pretty much got to be an expert at soldering on new fuse link...