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1988 Reliant K-Car issues. #3076661
09/12/22 05:41 PM
09/12/22 05:41 PM
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I know, a Reliant K-Car. laugh2

I've got a 1988 Plymouth Reliant K-Car that was given to me by a buddy for getting his 74 AMC Gremlin running again.

It's a 77k mile car but hasn't run in a few years from what I can tell.

It wasn't getting spark, a new distributor pickup fixed that.
Cranks and gets spark but no start (no fuel).

It wasn't getting fuel, pump had gone to crap (d*mn ethanol fuel).
tested the pump after dropping the tank and it wouldn't run.

Replaced the fuel pump, still wouldn't start.
Checked the start relay / ASD relay, wasn't sending power to the pump.

Jumped the relay, hot wire to pump feed wire and the car starts and runs.

The DTC codes that come up are

#12 battery was disconnected (makes sense).

#42 ASD /Fuel Pump relay circuit


What I found online
42 Automatic shutdown relay circuit open or shorted
42 Fuel pump relay control circuit
42 Fuel level unit - no change over miles

OR
42 Z1 voltage missing when autoshutdown circuit energized (SEE NOTE #6)

and DTC code

#44 No FJ2 voltage present at logic board.

Wiring is not my forte, I hate it personally. rant

Anyone have any ideas of what I should be looking for?

Thanks!!!!


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3076668
09/12/22 06:06 PM
09/12/22 06:06 PM
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Check the fuseable links.

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3076673
09/12/22 06:15 PM
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If I remember correctly I think the wires by or going to the asd relay would corrode.

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3076711
09/12/22 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by NITROUSN
Check the fuseable links.


Thought about that.
Would the red wire to the relay get power if the fusible link was bad?

It gets power all the time.
Online it says "The red wire is a straight feed from the battery + so check at the relay at the red wire for battery voltage".

the relay has the
red power feed wire,
The green fuel pump wire.

A dark blue with white stripe wire .

A dark blue with yellow stripe wire (if I understand correctly it gets fed the ground from the pcm)

If I jump the red wire to the green wire the car will start and run.

If I send positive power to the dark blue wire with the white stripe it engages the solenoid and the car will start and run.


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3076722
09/12/22 08:57 PM
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Then run a ground jumper to the blue with yellow and see if it will run. Is there any remote start or alarm systems installed?

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3076738
09/12/22 09:39 PM
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Has the car ever been hit? Isn't there a shutoff switch in the trunk somewhere?


"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3076762
09/12/22 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by NITROUSN
Then run a ground jumper to the blue with yellow and see if it will run. Is there any remote start or alarm systems installed?


I tried that, no start.

No remote start on the car.

Only thing aftermarket is the radio.


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: slantzilla] #3076764
09/12/22 10:48 PM
09/12/22 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by slantzilla
Has the car ever been hit? Isn't there a shutoff switch in the trunk somewhere?


No idea.
It's had one crappy repaint, but no obvious body damage.

No idea on the shut off switch, I'll have to look into that... work


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: slantzilla] #3076775
09/12/22 11:10 PM
09/12/22 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by slantzilla
Has the car ever been hit? Isn't there a shutoff switch in the trunk somewhere?


This^^

I cannot find a scan of the Reliant owners manual, but I could find a scan of the sales brochure.
On page 13 of that brochure, under "standard safety features", it brags about an impact-actuated fuel supply shutdown relay.

I cannot speak directly to K Car stuff, but I maintain a fleet of 2nd gen Ford Escorts that have this exact thing.
In the Fords, it is a simple inertia switch located in the trunk that pops a button up [thereby interrupting the fuel pump circuit] if it gets jarred.
This need not be an accident - It can be popped by something as mundane as running over a speed bump too briskly.
I imagine it might also be tripped when being towed/trailered to someone's house in barter for work done on an another car.
In the Fords, you simply press the red button back down to reset it.

You might consider investing $9 in a used Reliant owner's manual to direct you to a layperson's description of where to find it and how to reset it.



Down to just a blue car now.
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: 68HemiB] #3076776
09/12/22 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 68HemiB
Originally Posted by slantzilla
Has the car ever been hit? Isn't there a shutoff switch in the trunk somewhere?


This^^

I cannot find a scan of the Reliant owners manual, but I could find a scan of the sales brochure.
On page 13 of that brochure, under "standard safety features", it brags about an impact-actuated fuel supply shutdown relay.

I cannot speak directly to K Car stuff, but I maintain a fleet of 2nd gen Ford Escorts that have this exact thing.
In the Fords, it is a simple inertia switch located in the trunk that pops a button up [thereby interrupting the fuel pump circuit] if it gets jarred.
This need not be an accident - It can be popped by something as mundane as running over a speed bump too briskly.
I imagine it might also be tripped when being towed/trailered to someone's house in barter for work done on an another car.
In the Fords, you simply press the red button back down to reset it.

You might consider investing $9 in a used Reliant owner's manual to direct you to a layperson's description of where to find it and how to reset it.



The car still has the original owners manual, I'll have to look at it and see if it shows an "impact switch" anywhere. up

I'm sure that the car has been bumped around getting pushed here and there while not running.


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3076808
09/13/22 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by SNK-EYZ
Originally Posted by NITROUSN
Then run a ground jumper to the blue with yellow and see if it will run. Is there any remote start or alarm systems installed?


I tried that, no start.

No remote start on the car.

Only thing aftermarket is the radio.


That makes no sense. You bypass the relay and you can make it run. Did you try a new relay? It is pretty simple system. Battery power to relay socket, Keyed power to coil side of relay, Ground signal from the pcm on the other coil side of the relay. Relay should latch and power goes to the item that needs to be powered up. Double check those feeds.

Last edited by NITROUSN; 09/13/22 07:55 AM.
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3076854
09/13/22 10:39 AM
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Modern cars switch grounds to activate relays. Ground for the auto shutdown relay comes from the PCM, Seems to me that the O2 sensor heater circuit is tied in to this, but I can't remember exactly how. I have some 1980s FSMs. I'll look to see if I have the 1988 set (if I can get to them).

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3076858
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Quote
If I send positive power to the dark blue wire with the white stripe it engages the solenoid and the car will start and run.


That wire needs to power up when the key is on.

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: Jim_Lusk] #3076937
09/13/22 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim_Lusk
Modern cars switch grounds to activate relays. Ground for the auto shutdown relay comes from the PCM, Seems to me that the O2 sensor heater circuit is tied in to this, but I can't remember exactly how. I have some 1980s FSMs. I'll look to see if I have the 1988 set (if I can get to them).


That's what I've read online, the PCM sends the ground to activate the relay.

Both the dark blue with white stripe wire and the dark blue with yellow stripe wire come from the PCM.
At least that's what the wiring schematic that I found online shows.

For now I've wired an only hot when the key is on wire lead into the blue /white stripe wire of the relay so I can move the car around.

I rechecked the DTC codes and now it only shows an #11 and a #12 code.

Kinda weird on the #11 code since it actually runs.

11 No ignition reference signal detected during cranking (bad Hall effect) OR loss of camshaft sensor (and, for cars with crankshaft sensors - which does not include the 2.2/2.5 - timing belt skipped a tooth or loss of crankshaft sensor). See note #8 below.

12 Battery or computer recently disconnected


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3076985
09/13/22 04:33 PM
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I guess you really do not want to fix it.

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3076997
09/13/22 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by NITROUSN
I guess you really do not want to fix it.


Not sure why you think that... shruggy

I've checked the connections to the PCM and cleaned them, made no difference.

I did a temporary patch so I can move the car.

I need to figure out why it's not feeding the positive side of the solenoid from the PCM as it should.

There is no impact switch or anything of that nature listed in the owners manual.
An online search found nothing about one on a K-Car, mainly Escorts.


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3077007
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The PCM/SBEC does not feed power to the ASD.

Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3077023
09/13/22 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by NITROUSN
The PCM/SBEC does not feed power to the ASD.


I guess you skipped over where I said
Quote
Wiring is not my forte, I hate it personally. rant

Anyone have any ideas of what I should be looking for?


The wiring schematic that I have shows the blue/white stripe wire coming from the PCM, just like the blue/yellow stripe wire also from the PCM.
The red power wire comes off the alternator/battery feed.
The green wire goes to the fuel pump.

I stated this already.

The blue/white wire and the blue/yellow wire are what actuates the solenoid.
One of them has to feed positive and the other is a ground.

Feel free to explain what I'm missing here...........


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: SNK-EYZ] #3077034
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As I said a few posts above that wire is 12 volts keyed off the ignition switch. That's what you are missing. PCM/SBEC Gets fed from that circuit it does not supply it. If I had the manual I could be more help. I am going off my memory. For sure it is a blue wire that is off the ignition switch. We always called it the J2 circuit.

Last edited by NITROUSN; 09/13/22 08:26 PM.
Re: 1988 Reliant K-Car issues. [Re: NITROUSN] #3077112
09/14/22 02:27 AM
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Originally Posted by NITROUSN
As I said a few posts above that wire is 12 volts keyed off the ignition switch. That's what you are missing. PCM/SBEC Gets fed from that circuit it does not supply it. If I had the manual I could be more help. I am going off my memory. For sure it is a blue wire that is off the ignition switch. We always called it the J2 circuit.


The wiring schematic that I have shows it (blue/white) coming from the engine control module.

I checked continuity with a meter and it shows it having continuity from the relay to the ECM.

K-Car WiringS.jpeg
Last edited by SNK-EYZ; 09/14/22 02:29 AM.

Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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