Underdash ground locations

10

Asked by david Oct 26, 2020 at 04:06 PM about the 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4 Dr S Sedan

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 1993 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme. I
replaced the ignition/dimmer switch assembly, and
now I have no power door locks, heater blower, or
rear defrost. I have power to the blower. Was going
to rig a temporary wire to ground the blower to get
me by, but when I touched it to ground my door
chime went off and the power locks cycled, making
me believe this is a ground problem. Only problem
is I can't find a factory manual that shows the
various ground locations. Any help would be
appreciated.

2 Answers

26,785

Look around the fuse panel for a common grounding point.

2 people found this helpful.
10

This car has 4 different fuse boxes, scattered around the car. I do have it confirmed as being a ground issue. I noticed the map lights didn't work, in addition to the other systems. Checking the very poor wiring diagram in the Haynes manual I have, it shows 3 wires to the map lights in the mirror, 12+, door switch ground, and a ground for map. Diagram shows a 2 position switch, normally connected thru the door switch ground and then switched to the ground for map. It gives no ground location or designation like GM does, such as g23 or g206 that would show the grounding point and location in the ground distribution Chart. I connected a wire to the ground wire for the map at the connector and the other end to a good ground point with the ignition on. I immediately got my blower, defrost, auto door locks, and chime back. It showed I do have a broken ground like I thought, but still don't know where. This car at some point had a aftermarket remote start or security system on it, due to the ton of scotch locks and cut wires coming off the ignition switch I replaced. My thinking now is the tech needed a ground for his system and instead of drilling a hole and placing a screw for his ground, he probably cut a ground wire and spliced his wire in with a butt splice connector and when I had the column down to replace the ignition/dimmer switch, I either dislodged it or pulled it completely apart.

1 people found this helpful.

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