I have been having electrical problems and now I have an acceleration problem going up hills.

It started out to be intermittent but now it has gotten worse. The ignition key doesn't always come back to the correct position. When it doesn't my accessories do not work. But I can drive around just fine, or course not at night. If I push the key over a little my lights, radio etc will work except strange things happen. If my headlights are off, and I step on the breaks my radio shuts off and turns back on. If my headlights are on the radio will stay on unless I turn on the heater then it will cut out and come back on. During all this my idiot volt gauge reads bellow the red most of the time. My car still runs regardless. I can really hear the relays clicking away. It isn't just one either. If I start to turn my ignition key I can hear something clicking ( i have the fuss box area exposed trying to figure where it is coming from )befor my starter engages. After my car is running I can hear what sounds like "air" coming from my dash.
Today I sat in my car turning everything on, off, etc and if I did it slowly my engine almost cut off a couple of times. If I quickly turn things on then all off, my volt gauge reads normal for a second then kicks back down to below 10 if I let my car idol. If I do not shut my car off befor the gauge reads too low the starter struggles to turn over the next time I start my car. My battery is new and the alternator is working.

All packed and ready to go home yesterday, I ran into another problem. My car does not want to go up any hills. Could this be related to the electricial problems? I did have poor acceleration up hills a couple of times last week but I did the old pull over, shut the car off, wait then turned it back on and it would be back to "normal". Now the problem is constant

I love my car!!! I have over 362,000 miles on it, I have owned it for 11 years. I am still not ready to give up on it. I have read in some of the forums about the 86 electricial harness problems. But what are the symptoms exactly? Should I begin by replacing my ignition switch? I have looked over the car for any exposed wires, loose grounds and such and have found none.

Could someone start me in the right direction in order to resolve some problems so I can go home???

radio shuting off when you hit the brakes is a classic alternater problem, or a wiring problem, check the gray plug at the wire wall [middle of engine compartment on 240's] cut into the harness to see the wires or do a continuty chec on each Β] wire will jiggling the harness

Changing the ingnitionswitch is absolutely a good start. When you have done that you can start to search for the (if any) other reasons for electrical problems. At first it doesnt sound like the electrical problems have anything to do with the lack of power in the engine - but it could.

So start with the ignition lock!
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Sorry about my English! From: Sweden, drives 240, 740.

Thank you! Went out this morning to go get parts. My car tried to turn over vut no luck. Now it isn't doing anything.

In your shoes, I would make a strong effort to wiggle EVERY ground wire under the dash. Also look for one that has fallen off its connector.