1982 nissan datsun 200 sx

my uncle needs help! All electrical is out, but car starts up fine. We checked fuses and all OK which is under the passenger side, but he checked it with a tester and no power is going to them. Prior to this happening everything worked fine. On night it happen we just simply hooked up a wire from the headlights to the positive terminal and everything went on with the exception of his gauges on the dash, they were inoperable. The following day, did the same thing but now only the lights come on and that's it.

Does anyone know where to look at or what to look for? There's a relay panel in the engine area to the left side behind the battery and have no clue what is to what there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Did you here a POP noise when you made that connection? Did/ do you smell a funny sulphury smell

Those older cars usually had fusible links goingto the fuse box(most likely your culprit)

You could have burnt out your ignition switch

Sounds like a fusible link/ links burnt out between battery and fuse box

If you cant locate the open circuit the you can by an amp kit And run new power wire(4ga) with 80A fuse from BATTERY to Fuse Block and call it a DAY.

Thanks. I heard no such noise when that connection was made. I did them him that it appears to be a fusible link too but he doubts that it is.

The ignition switch is fine as the car still starts fine, but I believe maybe you are referring to the other contacts that it has on it , right? I spoke with him and he was still searching for the cause earlier in the day.

I'll mention the alternative method you suggested, maybe he'll do that, if he can't find the problem.

Anyone else? Maybe someone has the wiring diagram?