Author Topic: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up...Fixed!  (Read 2399 times)

Offline dodj

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up
« Reply #15 on: November 09, 2013 - 09:14:58 AM »
 Keep the switch panel  unmounted forpossible testing later if needed. Check the hl light switch wiring connector.  Make sure aspade lug can't get pushed out the back when you are attaching it blind. It gets tight back there
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.




Offline dodj

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up
« Reply #16 on: November 09, 2013 - 09:23:51 AM »
Connect as few things as possible and test. Then connect a few more and so on. You know you have a good harness so it just install or connected devices. Leave the blower disconnected.  It is the only high demand device that could be failed and trying to find a path to ground through your light cct other than pinched wires but you said you couldn't find any, so worth a try I guess.  Tough problem to put a finger on.
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up
« Reply #17 on: November 09, 2013 - 10:44:18 AM »
one thought but do not know where it leads. When the cluster is mounted it is grounded, so there could be a short in some component. Maybe make a temporary ground you can connect/disconnect to the cluster & see what that might expose.
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline Recovering Cuda

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up.. Fixed!
« Reply #18 on: November 10, 2013 - 09:32:35 AM »
Okay gents here is the skinny on my problem with the wires heating up when the headlights were turned to bright.  As stated above when I removed the cluster from the dash everything works.  Well as it turns out, with the cluster removed it is no longer grounded to the car.  My brother in law begin to do some checking.  He zeroed in on the bright light indicator blub.  This red wire is tied into the dimmer switch and headlight switch.  He jumpered the socket and did some test and his jumper wire starting heating up.  As it turned out, inside the dimmer indicator socket the center lead was up and touching the side of the socket even with the blub pushed in and seated.  With the cluster mounted (grounded to the car) this caused a short and heating of the wires.  With the blub properly seated and the center connection down away from the side of the socket, everything works.    Now, when I originally installed the blub I noticed that this center lead was "up" some in the socket but it didn't concern me because I figured by inserting the blub, this would push it down into its proper position.  Even though the blub "seated" obviously this did not happen.  Now all is well..........almost.....now my car will not start.  I tested it prior to reassembling (hit the ignition and it see if would turn over)  and Nada.  Found that the positive battery cable was loose.  Cleaned it up, tightened it down and it would crank.  Buttoned everything up and tried to start it...........nothing..........but hey, the headlights work!  Gotta call the brother in law back.

Offline Recovering Cuda

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up.. Fixed!
« Reply #19 on: November 10, 2013 - 09:41:20 AM »
Thanks for all the help guys and pointing us into the right direction.  Funny, how such a small issue can cause such a large problem. 

Offline 73EStroker

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up...Fixed!
« Reply #20 on: November 10, 2013 - 10:26:16 AM »
And you can be thankful that the short all happened on the dash side of the bulkhead connector otherwise you might have burned a connection out in b\h connector. That's the reason I converted my headlights to relays and used the original wiring and switch to simply control the relay coils.
Barry (Salmon Arm)

Offline Super Blue 72

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up...Fixed!
« Reply #21 on: November 10, 2013 - 02:07:16 PM »
You'll be an expert in diagnosing electrical issues when you're all done!  :thumbsup:
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up...Fixed!
« Reply #22 on: November 10, 2013 - 11:24:47 PM »
I am glad you located it  :2thumbs:

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline dodj

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Re: More issues with under dash harness, wires heating up...Fixed!
« Reply #23 on: November 11, 2013 - 03:32:59 PM »
 :2thumbs:
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.