She is home. N7, you are spot on I needed to get fuel. That is often a sign I look for, if a fuel tank is half or more full, the situation that placed the vehicle in the salvage yard was likely unplanned.
I had a high and a low yesterday. I found at a pull a part a like car that was a recent arrival, about 117 miles away. Went to the car, and wanted four parts. two of the four parts were pulled, but the top two were still there. And to my amazement, the parts were ready to pull- these parts are buried under the front seats. I could not believe only five minutes to pull the two parts. Returned and plugged in the two parts, car was still dead as a doornail except for the radio. Worked another hour, nothing. Hit a mental low. Picked my Wife up some groceries and headed home for the night a bit defeated.
This morning I printed out the fuse box charts, rather than look at the charts on my cell phone. I also purchased for $14.99 all electronic drawings and printed those out. Looking at the drawings, I saw the positive lead to the central gateway, also provides power to the OBD port. Come to find out, maybe the car caused it, but my icorsoft MB code reader was causing the 7.5 amp fuse to blow. I had left the reader plugged on 24x7 to help show any signs of life. It in fact may have been causing me to look at things not needing attention.
After removing the code reader, I went back to basics. SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHEN I SAW THE CUT WIRES. I audited the other two fuse boxes, one in the passenger compartment, and the other under the hood. I found nicked positive leads to the passenger fuse box (see pic), but no cut/ open wire, nor any signs of shorting. During the audit I discovered missing fuses. Replaced the fuses, but car still dead. Checked the voltage at these two fuse boxes, and found none. Looked at the electrical drawings, and traced the lack of power to a 30 AMP pre fuse. Replaced the pre fuse, and low and behold she started.
Went to take her off the trailer in a huge hurry, because another day of rental was to start in 20 minutes. Took of the tire tie downs and went to drive her off the trailer, but she would only move a inch and freeze. I started to think the tow driver that recovered the car may have towed her in park. A second look, I forgot to remove the trailer safety chain. Removed the chain and off she went.
After returning the trailer, I returned to the car. She started up again, could not hear the car run- it is that quiet. I bolted the driver seat back to the body, and went to the car wash. Next the gas station, and finally the seven mile drive home. She runs like a Rolex. I still have a full day putting her back together and cleaning up the wires, and have to find a running board- but I like everything I see.
