Author Topic: Electrical gremlins  (Read 1468 times)

Offline HP2

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Electrical gremlins
« on: February 19, 2007 - 12:04:55 PM »
My 74 has recently developed a problem that has had me leaving her stationary since discovering it.

I've lost the following; turn signals, brake lights, and fuel guage. All disappeared about the same time. The hazzards work, the ammeter works, dahs, running, and park lights work.

I've been checking grounds, but haven't found anything loose or corroded enough to make a difference. The bulkhead connector seems okay too. Any thoughts on where to look next?




Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: Electrical gremlins
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2007 - 02:51:42 PM »
These problems are not related, as I can see it. The lack of turn signals might be a bad turn signal switch in your steering column. That might explain the brake lights not working too, since this switch is the brains of the operation. The gas gauge would be a different problem. If your other gauges are working, then I would ground the signal wire going into your sending unit, to see if your gauge reads full. That will tell you if the gauge is bad, or if the problem is the sending unit. I have a pic that I'll post here in case you don't know about electronics. I grounded the signal wire to the ground strap. A side thought here, have you checked all your fuses? Are the ribbon cables running up your steering column firmly connected?


  Mike
« Last Edit: February 19, 2007 - 02:53:48 PM by MEKrunner »

Mike

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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Electrical gremlins
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2007 - 12:05:36 AM »
I agree start with the turn signal switch for all but the fuel guage problem
with the fuel guage see if the guage is powered & ground the other side of the guage to see if the guage is working if so continue to ground the circuit until it quits working , try at the body plug behind the kick panel & at the sender

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Offline HP2

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Re: Electrical gremlins
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2007 - 06:58:19 AM »
Thanks for the tips.

Checked around on the column. It looks like it was hacked and spliced back together at some time. So naturally I found a loose crimp which when reconencted, put the turn signals back into commision.

The brake lights are another story. One of the leads going to the switch looks like it shorted somewhere and got hot enough to turn the insulation all shiny, so there is a short in it somewhere.

Haven't got under it to check the fuel tank strap yet, but that sound like a logical place to look.