wiring problems in '70 Cuda

[moparmaniac72]

 Okay a friend of mine had a '70 Cuda with a numbers matching 383.  Very, very nice car inside and out.  However after sending it to the shop to have some things fixed, it came back with a few things not working.  The car now has no dash lights and some of the gauges don't work.  Also there are several lights in the dash that stay on all of the time, even with key turned off and doors shut.  After examining under the dash I found that there was a piece of metal stuck in the fuse box where there should have been a fuse.  It was in the place marked misc. and after removing this then all of the lights went out.  Also the dash lights don't work.  Above the gauges on the dash there are four lights.  The green light on the far left works(one of the ones that stayed on all of the time), but the other three won't work.  The bulbs are covered by green lenses.  Can anyone help me with this problem?  I don't know a whole lot about Mopars, but am trying to help her get it fixed.  She wants it fixed before this weekend as she is taking it to Monster Mopar Weekend to try and sell it.  Does anyone know where I can find wiring diagrams one the internet to help me out?  If so pleaase reply or email me as soon as possible.  Thank you in advance for any help.

[Chryco Psycho]

the dash lights often have a poor ground either pull the lights out or drop the light panel down & check the grounding of the sockets or the bulbs themselves
 The dash light panel should be plugged into an orange 3 socket connecter near the ash tray

[peterro]

Hmm.. makes me wonder what happened at the shop where the repairs were done.  What were they supposed to do?

Anyway, I've seen wiring diagrams on ebay all the time.  Just do a search for "challenger wiring".  My search yielded 14 hits  which should cover that car....

 oops.. wait.  this is a Cuda... there weren't as many hits.  I have a Challenger and went into autopilot on my search.  Wonder how different they are.

Also, Post some pictures and info about the car in the cars for sale section.

[moparmaniac72]

Thanks guys I'll have to check that plug in by the ash tray.  I knew about the ground because when I dropped the panel where all the bulbs plug in then the one green light on the far left went out.

As for the guy that worked on it--- he was an idiot.  Never again will my friend trust him with a $40000+ car or anything else for that matter.

Also for anybody that lives anywhere in the midwest and might be interested in a car like this, it will be in Madison, IL this weekend.(Sept. 5-7) at Monster Mopar Weekend at Gateway International Raceway.  For further questions please email me and I will tell you as much as I know about the car.

[moparmaniac72]

Okay I checked all the grounds and they seem to be well grounded.  Also I checked the plug in down by the ashtray and it was plugged in.  Does anyone else have any suggestions?  Or does anybody know where I can find a wiring diagram online?  Preferrably where I can download and not have to order it.  I am wanting to get this problem solved.  If my friend doesn't sell the car this weekend then we are going to tear the dash out and try to track the problem down.  Thanks again!!!

[70Cuda]

If you don't sell while you are at the show, I suggest you hunt up a reproduction 70 Plymouth Service manual which you could throw in when later sold.  I picked one up at the nationals for $65 and it includes the full wiring diagrams.  The one I have also includes the 70 1/2 AAR and says so on the cover if you are looking.  Pages 8-141 through 8-145 depending on if you have the rallye cluster or not.

The local dealer still has 70 parts manuals so I wouldn't be surprised if they have service manuals too.  Might be the same in your area and you could see if they would make copies of the pages for you - nothing to loose.

There is also a small chiltons book for barracudas but really only shows the wiring forward of the firewall.

Maybe the generalities in this article will help you a bit too:
 http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/23241/index.html

[Chryco Psycho]

does the orange plug have power with the lights on , it could be a bad contact on the dimmer switch I have seen a few do this

[70 LimeLight]

A good place to look for a wiring diagram is at the public library. I have been to several  of them and was able to photocopy  the needed wiring diagrams for less than $1.  Not the best copies, but they will work in a pinch.

Good Luck

[GreenFish]

there is a web site that you can down load and print off any car 's wireing diagram..  i am at work and i dont have it off hand. i will post agian when i get home, i have it in my favorites on my home computer. of you can look in a mopar mag.  I saw the advertisement in mopar action , or mopar musle, or mopar collector guide. not sure witch one.   good luck