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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: Supercuda]
#1687351
10/19/14 04:30 PM
10/19/14 04:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda
Too Many Posts
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
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Quote:
Quote:
Not a bad idea to pull the plugs out on the engine side other the fuse box and clean, inspect, tighten female connections. Many times that itself is the draw/resistance on a circuit.
Draw? No, extra resistance, yes.
A draw has to have a path to ground. A dirty connection will not have a path to ground, therefore it cannot be a draw. If a connection does have a path to ground (outside it's normal path) then it is a short.
It does not hurt to clean all the connections and put some dielectric grease on the connection to minimize corrosion. Since this is a new to you vehicle that is not 100% stock the FSM can only be a guide. You will have to figure out how the extra stuff is wired in and write it down for future reference.
My bad. Incorrect use of word.
A bad connection will cause extra resistance.
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687352
10/19/14 04:46 PM
10/19/14 04:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
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So Cal, USA
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Quote:
That red/black wire doesn't appear to be connected to anything. This end is a female plug that's currently empty:
It joins a taped-up group of wires that runs over to the bulkhead connector. I believe the other end is taped up, and unused (you can see it poking out to the left, next to a bunch of other wires). Looks like it previously went into the bulkhead connector box:
I first thought this might be the original fusible-link wire, but the diagram says that wire should be dark blue.
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687355
10/19/14 08:58 PM
10/19/14 08:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
super stock
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OP
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Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
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Quote:
Looks like the original charge wire to me, original was Red and ran to cavity #16.
Well, that's interesting because that's where the green wire (with the inline fuse) is going. Someone else told me this might be the charging wire.
Sorry, I've had other stuff going on, so have not been able to look at this today. I will try to answer the questions posted by others tomorrow. Thanks to all for your suggestions so far.
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: Fab64]
#1687356
10/19/14 10:20 PM
10/19/14 10:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
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I removed the Dome/Stop fuse, connected the fuse on the green wire and started the car. The green wire and fuse still get very warm - just wanted to confirm to myself that this is a separate issue. Answers to some questions: Quote:
Using a VOM with ammeter function to measure just what your at rest current draw is, would help in identifying the likely cause. The test light method is pretty limited in that regard.
I measured the at-rest current draw at 11.89 volts (I simply bridged the green wire at the fuse connection, without the fuse in - is that correct?).
Quote:
What's that red wire coming out of the ACC terminal on the very bottom of your picture go to?
That is being used to supply power to the aftermarket gauges.
Quote:
Looking at your other pics, looks like a new engine wiring harness was put on the car at some point.
How can you tell?
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687359
10/19/14 11:07 PM
10/19/14 11:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
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Quote:
"I measured the at-rest current draw at 11.89 volts (I simply bridged the green wire at the fuse connection, without the fuse in - is that correct?)."
Sounds like you are measuring voltage drop, while useful to some extent under some circumstances, not what I was talking about here. Some better VOMs have an ammeter function to measure the actual amount of current draw in amps or milliamps. Can be helpful to identify likely causes to know just how much current draw is taking place. Clearly not a dead short or fuses would be blowing in this scenario.
Here's what I have:
I just tried it again, using both the 200mA DC and the 10A DC settings (on the right side of the dial), and it showed zero on both.
Quote:
To be clear, there is two separate problems as I understand your OP, the overheating replacement fuse holder a wire under the hood while running and the apparent current draw on the dome/hazard light circuit if the replacement charge wire is left connected to the starter relay for any length of time at rest.
Yes, I am convinced these are two separate issues.
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687361
10/19/14 11:24 PM
10/19/14 11:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
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OP
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Posts: 1,074
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Quote:
When set to 10a mode, need to move the red lead over to the other side of the VOM. Would appear in the 200ma mode, leads stay put. Be sure to connect in series with load, as with the test light method or voltage drop. Do you have your dome/hazard light fuse back in place?
Good grief, nothing like displaying one's profound ignorance in a public forum, hmm?  LOL!! Ok, it measures at 0.96 in that setting.
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687363
10/20/14 01:27 AM
10/20/14 01:27 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
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Quote:
Light bulb somewhere, is there a trunk light?
No, no trunk light fixture, and no wire for it. I will check the glove box light tomorrow. Thanks again for your help!
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687367
10/20/14 04:18 AM
10/20/14 04:18 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
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Good grief, you guys are going to think I'm a moron. I just realized that I've had the driver's door open while I've been doing all my testing.  So, of course, the light goes out when I unplug the stop/dome fuse, or disconnect the dome connector. I just used my test light to check the current in the green wire with the door closed. The light is very dim, just barely lit. The VOM doesn't show anything in the 10A setting, or on the 200mA setting (with the red lead plugged into the correct hole). Sorry for the wild goose chase. I'll pick this up again in the morning (after likely dreaming about it all night  ).
Last edited by Fab64; 10/20/14 05:21 AM.
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Re: Need advice on electrical issue
[Re: 72roadrunnergtx]
#1687369
10/20/14 07:17 PM
10/20/14 07:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
Fab64
OP
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OP
super stock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,074
So Cal, USA
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Ok, I've found the cause of the current drain (for real this time - LOL!!). It was a red wire that was plugged into the BATT terminal on the fuse block (at bottom left in pic below):  This wire was running to the Sunpro tach that is in the car:  I located a pdf manual on the Sunpro site. The manual says the red wire should be connected to a power source which is on ONLY when the key is in the RUN (not ACC) position. The BATT terminal of the fuse block is always hot, so that was the drain. Is there a recommended source that you guys use, which is only hot when the ignition key is in the RUN position? Btw, I checked the rest of the fuses in the block. All were correct 20A except for the two 30A that were in the INSTR & DOME/STOP slots. I will replace those with the correct 5A & 20A. So, this should resolve my current drain problem, but I still have the issue with the green wire running very hot. A few of you have suggested replacing the fusible link with the correct 16 ga wire. To clarify, are the "charge wire" and "fusible link" the same wire? Will this in itself take care of the heating issue? Btw, I checked the NAPA website and could find no hits on "fusible". Is this a common item? Would the Dodge dealer have it, or is this one of those items that's too old? It was also suggested that I might want to by-pass the bulkhead connector for the charge wire and the black leg of the circuit running from the ammeter to the alternator output. I will start looking into this. Thanks for bearing with me through this ordeal. I have actually learned much.
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