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Doogal Too

Member

• Mar 16, 2024

• #1

Just got my 1979 Santana series 3 109 station wagon. I took it out for a few miles and came back to snoop around inside. When I went to start it back up to park it, no power whatsoever. No lights… nothing. I took the battery out and charged it to be sure that wasn’t it. Nope. Fuses inside were all fine. I discovered it was this little box that splits the earth cable between the battery and engine block. I’m guessing it’s a fuse but I’ve never seen one like it and never on the negative side. Looking to be educated by the experts!

 

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D

Doogal Too

Member

• Mar 16, 2024

• #2

Doogal Too said:

Just got my 1979 Santana series 3 109 station wagon. I took it out for a few miles and came back to snoop around inside. When I went to start it back up to park it, no power whatsoever. No lights… nothing. I took the battery out and charged it to be sure that wasn’t it. Nope. Fuses inside were all fine. I discovered it was this little box that splits the earth cable between the battery and engine block. I’m guessing it’s a fuse but I’ve never seen one like it and never on the negative side. Looking to be educated by the experts!

Click to expand...

Diesel by the way

 

Graculus

Well-Known Member

• Mar 16, 2024

• #3

That looks like an isolator switch, is there a 'T' handle on the other side of the bulkhead?.

 

steve2286w

Well-Known Member

• Mar 16, 2024

• #4

Never seen one but Top bit looks like it screws on so can’t turn, perhaps it’s like a bimetallic strip that breaks circuit if it gets overheated , is there heat damage on the bit you’re holding

 

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Doogal Too

Member

• Mar 16, 2024

• #5

Graculus said:

That looks like an isolator switch, is there a 'T' handle on the other side of the bulkhead?.

Click to expand...

There is. How does it work? Obviously I turned it, causing the problem and I tried to turn it back. So I’m guessing I’m either using it wrong or I may have have broken it.

 

Last edited: Mar 17, 2024

steve2286w

Well-Known Member

• Mar 17, 2024

• #6

So maybe when you turn the handle the copper bar moves in and out breaking circuit.?

 

Graculus

Well-Known Member

• Mar 17, 2024

• #7

Doogal Too said:

There is. How does it work? Obviously I turned it, causing the problem and I tried to turn it back. So I’m guessing I’m either using it wrong or I may have have broken it.

Click to expand...

There may be a spring detent, try pushing or pulling the handle whilst turning - or it could just be really stiff due to lack of use.
You could always just put all the wiring on to one of the terminals which would bypass the switch and restore the circuit continuity.

 

mystery

Well-Known Member

• Mar 17, 2024

• #8

just put both cable lugs on one stud until you sort the problem

 

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Doogal Too

Member

• Mar 18, 2024

• #9

Thanks everyone. Your advice and insights were invaluable.