Fiesta Rebuild when should I get power??

[TROOPER88]

Hi
I am carrying out pretty much a nut and bolt restoration of a MK3 Fiesta RS Turbo; it is under the Ford section in detail.

I am looking for a bit of advice.....

Every single aspect of the project I have done myself; learning the new skills as I go, this has included a full respray.

I recently began rebuilding the car and last week put the dash and loom into the car. Today I have been building up the doors with the electric windows and the like.

I connected the battery up just out of interest as it would be nice to test the electrical items as I go along.

There is absolutely no power getting to anything and I have tested the battery and I know it is good. I think I am about 20 steps too far ahead as the engine and geearbox are not even in yet.

When the battery positive and negative terminals are connected should I get power? I know that in a lot of cars nothing will work without the ignition being on. What I am getting at is does everything need to be connected up for things to work???

Do the earth straps all need to be connected for example just to operate the radio?

My electrical knowledge as you can see is shocking and I have been dreading this part all along!

Any help would be great!

Thank you

[james7]

Check the earth cable from the battery goes to the body rather than straight to the engine. If it does not a jump lead from the battery to the body will do a temp job for you to test stuff. But I think that most things on these are ignition powered so you will need to have that on too.
Also the positive wire may run from the battery to the starter/alternator or both before splitting to power the rest of the car up. Check they are joined etc.
BUT do make sure there are not any stray live wires touching the body/metal components or it will all get a bit warm
Good luck

[Steve_D]

As you don't know where the radio (as an example) goes to earth you would do well to connect any body earths you can. Also make sure you clean any new paint away so the earths go to bare metal. If you want a good connection without these points going rusty then assemble the earths with a good coating of petroleum jelly.
While there is a risk bare power leads could short out because you have not yet connected them do all your testing with a 10amp fuse fitted between the positive terminal and the positive lead. If something shorts it will just blow the fuse rather than fry your loom. Start testing the low power stuff first then as you move on to headlights etc. increase the size of the fuse.

Steve

[TROOPER88]

Thank you.

Are you agreeing then that whatever the item it will not function unless that whole circuit; including the earth is connected?

I will refrain from testing now I think and will wait until the engine and gearbox go in when everything will be re-connected.

To clarify, whenever an earth is connected to anywhere on the car it has to touch bare metal? Not painted metal?

Many thanks

[stevieturbo]

If the car is in pieces and there are many unterminated wires etc....I wouldnt be going connecting any batteries unless you are absolutely 100% fully conversant with every single wire in the car and where it is.
And it sounds like you arent.
You could risk serious damage if something shorts unexpectedly.

And yes, earths should ground to good clean bare metal. Paint will insulate.

[TROOPER88]

stevieturbo said:

If the car is in pieces and there are many unterminated wires etc....I wouldnt be going connecting any batteries unless you are absolutely 100% fully conversant with every single wire in the car and where it is.
And it sounds like you arent.
You could risk serious damage if something shorts unexpectedly.

And yes, earths should ground to good clean bare metal. Paint will insulate.

Thank you.

I will do no more testing until finished.