70 RT, electrical system dead from one moment to the next

[4 speed fish]

Happened to me once,it was a blown fuse,sometimes it is hard to tell if the fuse is blown.

[Giveitawack]

Yes, I know it's rediculous...Are the fuses in the fusebox OK?

[Chryco Psycho]

more likely to be corrosion in the connectors causing intermittent power loss

[Padawan]

I disconnected, cleaned, re-connected and wiggled about every connector from bulkhead connect to starter relay to battery to ground, fusible link still seems intact (at least my volt-meter made a sound), still nothing. 

[Giveitawack]

Ignition switch?

[Padawan]

Ignition switch?

I think I should at least have lights, outside and in the glove box, if it was the switch. It must be something very basic, but I think I've double checked it all. 

[Chryco Psycho]

light should work , they bypess the ign switch , you need to start tracing power , start relay out to the fusable link , into the bullkhead plug up to the ammeter etc

[Giveitawack]

light should work , they bypess the ign switch , you need to start tracing power , start relay out to the fusable link , into the bullkhead plug up to the ammeter etc

Yes. Ampmeter bulkhead connections were burnt and corroded on mine

[dodj]

light should work , they bypess the ign switch , you need to start tracing power , start relay out to the fusable link , into the bullkhead plug up to the ammeter etc

How about taking apart the column connector with the larger gauge wires and see if you have 12vdc on the red wire? Gotta trace wires until you find where the power disappears.

[Padawan]

It was the fusible link!!! Nothing like starting her up after one week of silence

The Volt-meter still makes the noise when attaching the pins to both ends, that's why I thought it's still good, but bridging the fusible link with a cable remedies all electrical problems. Maybe it's also the connectors, the tip of the male part looks a little burnt, but seemed to connect just fine. Just ordered two replacement links from YearOne, I hope they also come with the male plug.

Thanks everyone for the tips, I learned a lot about the electrical system in my Challenger and thanks to this I can now also work on putting the 8-track back in. 

[Giveitawack]

 
Well done!

[burdar]

Your local parts store would have had fuseable links in stock for probably 1/3 the price.  Glad you got it figured out.  Just make sure nothing is shorted and burning out the link.

[Padawan]

Your local parts store would have had fuseable links in stock for probably 1/3 the price.  Glad you got it figured out.  Just make sure nothing is shorted and burning out the link.

The local Advance only carries 14 ga links, I think the one I need is 16. Yeah, I hope there is no shorting burning out the link, but at least I'll know what it is if she goes silent again.

[Super Blue 72]

   Nice job!    Glad you got it figured out!