Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
#794899
09/06/10 09:50 PM
09/06/10 09:50 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518 Indiana
MonGoo$e
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518
Indiana
|
Before we start, yes, i have a 73 Plymouth Valiant electrical diagram. http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1973/73ValiantA.jpghttp://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1973/73ValiantB.jpgI have what seems like the essentials + some headlights/taillights with dimmer, brake lights, turn signals, license plate light. cigar lighter, wipers. hazard lights glove box and dome light (although dome light and glove box light work when the other is off.) what I don't have: dash lights, gear selector light, ashtray light. Blower motor ignition relay light on steering column What I have had, but don't for random reasons: map light, horn, and the radio is very week. Things I think it could be? -Well I replaced the fuses in the fuse block. (5) 20A and (2) 3A -I wondered if it was the headlight switch, they have went bad on me before, but it seems 90% of what is running right is coming from that switch. -that little voltage regulator on the back of the gauge cluster -wiring itself. I tend to doubt it, I'd had it all out, very clean, no corrosive connections, all very secure. anything else?
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: stumpy]
#794902
09/06/10 10:30 PM
09/06/10 10:30 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,069 Irving, TX
feets
Senior Management
|
Senior Management
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,069
Irving, TX
|
I'm with Stumpy on this one. it's got to be the switch or a ground issue. Check the grounds for the switch and instrument panel.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: MoparforLife]
#794905
09/06/10 11:18 PM
09/06/10 11:18 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,069 Irving, TX
feets
Senior Management
|
Senior Management
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,069
Irving, TX
|
I assumed the light on the radio was dim.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: MonGoo$e]
#794906
09/06/10 11:43 PM
09/06/10 11:43 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,501 Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
JDMopar
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,501
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
|
If you had the whole dash frame out, did you paint the interior of the car purple when you painted the rest of it? If you did, and then painted the dash frame before you reinstalled it....I'd say it's a grounding problem. I always leave clean shiny metal under the bolt where the bottom feet of the dash frame bolt up, both on the body and the dash frame. I use a little silicone grease at that point also. Make sure the column has a good ground also.
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: MonGoo$e]
#794908
09/07/10 05:53 AM
09/07/10 05:53 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122 Auburn WA
Dave_J
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122
Auburn WA
|
Yes it does sound like an open ground. I will always add as many grounds as possable to everything. Like three from the engine, one from the battery to the head, one from the altanator to the frame and one from the head to firewall, All 6 ga except the battery is a 4 ga. I also add a 10 ga from the battery to the firewall. Under the dash I add two 10 ga grounds strapped from the firewall to the Dash frame.
Retired, US ARMY 1973-1994 ASE mechanic, Electrical 1994-1997 Retired GTE/VERIZON/FRONTIER 1997-2015
Posting cheap tech help (CRAP) here since Nov 97, 1000's of posts, some may be good.
03 Suzuki Burgman 650(Burger King) Scooter 65 Formula S Cuda 78 Little Red Express Truck 98 Buick Regal (wifes car)
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: Dave_J]
#794909
09/07/10 07:30 PM
09/07/10 07:30 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518 Indiana
MonGoo$e
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518
Indiana
|
for starters i pulled the small screw that holes a little ground wire to the passenger side of dash, sanded the surface of the dash, cleaned the eyelet and the screw, used di-electrical grease, put it back in snug.
the 2 bolts along the bottom of dash frame i pulled, cleaned up with sandpaper, cleaned body surface and dash tabs, used the grease and tightened them both down.
Checked ground strap on engine, greased and tightened it on head and inner fender. and the battery-head on the front as well.
Unfortunetly, no change. Should I try ground wires or are there some other present grounds I should check?
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: rustbuckett68]
#794915
09/07/10 09:37 PM
09/07/10 09:37 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518 Indiana
MonGoo$e
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518
Indiana
|
i cleaned those ground contacts of grease, still nothing, I remembered I have the 73 owners manual laying around, found it and took a look at the fuse block. on my (5) 20 Amp fuses, I am getting 12.5ish on my voltmeter, my test light glows on each side of the fuse.
the (2) 3Amp fuses I don't pull a glow on the light. I guess thats normal right?
What confuses me is what it has listed for each one.
Circuit 1: Rear defogger/A/C clutch (full 12v) (I have no defogger and I haven't the A/C hooked up yet.)
Circuit 2: A/C blow motor (full 12v) (if thats my blower motor mounted on the firewall..it does nothing.)
Circuit 3: Radio, Back-Up Lamps, Reverse Gear Ind. Lamp, turn signals,
(I have automatic so no reverse indicator lamps.. the rest work except the MAP light, which DID work but doesn't now, my tester pulls like 0.10 at the most of the 2 way connector. it feeds the glove box which works unless you hit the map light switch, it nearly kills the glove box light while it's on.)
Circuit 4: Cigar lighter, Dome lamp, Trunk lamp, stop lamps, map lamps, glove box lamps, Ignition Lamp, Hazard flasher
( All these work except the MAP light, which DID work but doesn't now, my tester pulls like 0.10 at the most of the 2 way connector. it feeds the glove box which works unless you hit the map light switch, it nearly kills the glove box light while it's on.) and my ignition light doesn't work)
Circuit 5: Tail lamps, license plate lamp, parking lamps, instrument lamp, side marker lamp, horn, key in buzzer
these all work except instrument lamp. the horn way working, but not just clicks when I hit it...
Circuit 6: Brake warning lamp, fuel gauge, temp gauge, low oil lamp, seat belt light and buzzer
not positive on all these yet.
Circuit 7: Instrument cluster lamp, radio lamp, gear selector lamp, ash tray lamp, A/C control lamp,
(i thought tinstrument lamp was already covered in 5 but it has it listed again, it doesn't work, in fact none of these work.)
I'll do further testing, although my electrical knowledge it a bit shallow.
|
|
|
Re: Tired of the electrical, i need ideas.
[Re: stumpy]
#794917
09/07/10 10:46 PM
09/07/10 10:46 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518 Indiana
MonGoo$e
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,518
Indiana
|
i like those type of tests Stumpy, nice and simple, i give it a try here in a bit..thanks
Last edited by MonGoo$e; 09/07/10 10:50 PM.
|
|
|
|
|