63 Cadillac no electrical power

[David Erickson]

I have a 63 cadillac park avenue.  My bulbs in the door panels in the front driver and passenger sides were out.  I replaced them today and no illumination.   My battery is fully charged and I tried starting the car.  Absolutely no power.  Started fine earlier in teh day.  No lights will come on, no turnover when I start the car--completely dead.  Any ideas as to what the problem might be.   

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Dave,

     Without being there to see it, I would first check both battery cables for proper connections; that the negative is grounded properly to the frame and then the positive cable -especially at the starter/solenoid (that nothing is shorted out).  Also, the ignition switch to see if juice is present when you turn the key.   I would start there and work my way through the wiring.  Without being there it's hard to detect.

Dennis DiBari 

[Russ Austin]

Does the horn or headlight work? Check that the battery posts are clean and tight. Check the starter connections. The red wire comes off of the big post up to the fuse box and to the ignition switch. Check that there is power to the fuse box. Check the connector at the bottom at the red wire to power the fuse box. 

The purple wire on the ignition switch goes to the NSS. Check the large 2 wires on the NSS for continuity when the car is in park. The NSS should connect the 2 large wires together when in park. 

For the lights, check the body feed fuse.