Another Strange Dash Light issue...

[Al K]

...and other maddening things.

Drove the Sport Fury to work last night,and it was the first time I've driven it at night. When I pulled the headlight switch out,either half-way or all-the-way out,the right side turn indicator on the dash came on,as well as the "bright" light indicator. For one thing,the "bright" switch was off(when I pushed it,the brights came on,and the dash light b/l indicator went out);what bothers me is the right indicator turning on. When I hit the right-side turn indicator(with the lights on), it flashes faintly,and seems to draw more power to operate than using the left side. Also,when I pull the switch to just the "marker" lamp setting(half-way out),the left side marker comes on,but not the right. With the light switch off,the turn signals work fine-front and back. Checked the bulbs(all good) and since the r/s turn signal lamp works fine(with headlight switch off),I know I have power to that point. The switch is new,the fuses are good,and the bulbs are new-and I've tried different bulbs and fuses all with the same result. Any ideas-and if you say "ground",please tell me where this faulty ground may be.

Oh,did I mention that the license plate lights aren't operative either? Gawd,I just love dealing with electrical issues;though frustrating,it is educational. Like,I learned that you can put "@#$%^&*@#$%^" and "@#$%^&*@#$%^&*@#$%^&*@#" in a sentence and it makes sense...sort of.

Like when I go to use my little meter,and discover that the battery is dead,and I can't find a screwdriver small enough to get those little @#$%^&* screws out and the back cover off and boy,that V.O. looks tempting at 8:30 AM(it's Happy Hour somewhere,right?) and,and...

 

[Histoy]

Just a couple of thoughts... Headlight ground is to the radiator housing. It attaches just in front of the battery. I had problems with my '64 Belvedere at this location. Also, do you have a ground wire from one of the steering column mounting nuts to the underside of the dash? If not, that might be part of the problem. I believe that the ground for the license plate lights are the fasteners that hold them in place. If your trunk has been repainted, the paint might be preventing the fasteners from getting a good ground.

 

[Al K]

OK;a bit of an update. Maybe someone else will benefit from this...

Got the meter working and here's what I discovered: No power to the license plate lights. Cleaned up the area around the socket hole,and zilch-no lights there. On to the RF directional signal;I tried different bulbs,and found one that made contact enough to activate the turn signal but still no marker lamp when the headlight switch is pulled out to that position. I checked the plastic connector and have power there. Re-connected it,and pulled the bulb to check the two contacts. Have power to one,but not the other. Hmmm...bad socket? Broken wire between the connector and the socket?

Oh;when I hit the brights,they come on,but the RF outer headlight goes out. Switch off the brights,and the light comes back on. Hmmm...I love electrical issues,I love electrical issues,I love electrical issues:eusa_boohoo::eusa_boohoo::eusa_boohoo:

Can you fix electrical issues with a hammer?:violent1::violent1::violent1:

 

[moparstuart]

sure

 

[Joe Mopar]

A big one!

 

[Redpolara]

The headlights on my 64 were a bit unpredictable at one stage,I built a new dash though and in the process replaced everything.
Problem solved until the headlights developed a mind of their own......again(on occassions),turned out the dipper switch is on it's way out.

Something you could try Al, make up some temporary earth wires out of a decent gauge wire with alligator clips on both ends.......try them in various locations around the car and see if it helps, before doing any permanent wiring mods.

 

[scotts74birds]

Al, rule of thumb for DC electrical. If it dont work, check power. If it works weird, check ground. Making a jumper wire to connect some of these problems to a GOOD ground, will help you in the troubleshooting. PM sent.

 

[Al K]

Al, rule of thumb for DC electrical. If it dont work, check power. If it works weird, check ground. Making a jumper wire to connect some of these problems to a GOOD ground, will help you in the troubleshooting. PM sent.

Thank you sir;'tis appreciated. See,it's the simple diagnosis that this crowd offers that really helps. Thanks to all you guys! I'll let you know what progresses here.

I'm hoping to get down to the Nostalgia Drags at Milan this weekend;was going to arrange a shot of the (as yet unnamed-I almost always name my vehicles) Sport Fury going down the track with another same-era car,if possible. Have an ever-worsening power steering box leak;hell,they wouldn't let me near the track-rightfully so-with that. If I go,I'll still get pics for you cats.

 

[07charger67]

Not to hijack this thread but do any of you think that the ground wire for the headlights on our cars are kind of small?

 

[Redpolara]

Not to hijack this thread but do any of you think that the ground wire for the headlights on our cars are kind of small?

The ground wires were probably adequate when our cars were new, but as age sets in, resistance increases throughout the loom.
Alot of cars out there probably have something to the effect of a "Michael Jackson Wiring Harness".........it's been modified that many times it barely resembles it's original form and does alot of things that it shouldn't.

 

[Cranky]

Michael Jackson Wiring Harness.....I about spit coke all over my screen!

 

[danbook]

Just a couple of thoughts... Headlight ground is to the radiator housing. It attaches just in front of the battery. I had problems with my '64 Belvedere at this location. Also, do you have a ground wire from one of the steering column mounting nuts to the underside of the dash? If not, that might be part of the problem. I believe that the ground for the license plate light are the fasteners that hold them in place. If your trunk has been repainted, the paint might be preventing the fasteners from getting a good ground.

Hi guys! I like what the post is all about I'm also having trouble with my license plate light. Histoy was right about it my dad told me the same explanation. I'm a 1st time car owner so I was looking for some information regarding on this topic. Thanks a lot guys!

 

[vintagetin]

I have a '66 Charger....only if you knew what I had to deal with to get the elecroluminesent lights, and flip up headlight motors to all work properly! It's a process of using a multimeter and your wiring schemadic (you can find one online I'm sure).:banghead: