dash light stays on

[bschomske]

When i hook up the negative cable to the battery you can see an electrical spark.That being said,my problem is that the dash lights stay on all the time.I do have turn signals ,lights.the dome light works..door open or by the wheel.For what its worth the gas gauge does not work also..new gas tank and sending unit.Plus the horn does not work off the steering wheel but does work when hooked up to a seperate button..one last thing the defroster motor doesn't come on or will the squirters for the winshield.Car was just finished being restored.But with anything you have problems when going back together..I don't know that much about electrical

 

[Lionized]

The key to Mopar electrical is the power is constant, ground is the key. Nearly every Mopar electrical issue is a ground issue.

 

[68gtxman]

If the dash lights are always on, I would first suspect that the dome/panel switch is either turned on or shorted to on.

This is the switch I'm talking about

 

[69L48Z27]

Sounds like you have a lot to track down. All those sound unrelated for the most part.

- Dash - Staying on is opposite from most issues. Usually they don't come on. Headlight switch and thumb wheel control that.
- Gas guage - Start at the back of the car, meter sending unit. Make sure the sender is grounded to the car, special strap.
- Horn - Sounds like contact in the wheel.
- Defroster - Rear window? This is a simple circuit. Check at the defroster for power, check ground.
- Squirter - Meter out at the pump first, check ground.

These all sound separate but you might get lucky and fix a few at the same time. Check the fuse panel and make sure all fuses are good and make sure now wires fell off the back.

Based on your avatar is assume your asking about a 69 RR/GTX

 

[PRND21]

Another thing to consider, these wiring harnesses are 50 years old now. Especially with the under dash harness, has yours be cut/modified over the years? During your restoration, were all the connections and grounds checked, all should be clean and tight. Unless it's component failure, most of these little headaches can be traced to loose connections and bad grounds.

 

[bschomske]

thanks for the help but i guess i have a question about the switch..It does control the dome light ..meaning you can turn the wheel and the dome will come on..But it does not dime the light on the dash..As far as the grounds go..Where do i look.....1969 roadrunner...Defroster is in the dash..no rear defroster..I did but a new windsheild washer tank and pump....

 

[68gtxman]

thanks for the help but i guess i have a question about the switch..It does control the dome light ..meaning you can turn the wheel and the dome will come on..But it does not dime the light on the dash..As far as the grounds go..Where do i look.....1969 roadrunner...Defroster is in the dash..no rear defroster..I did but a new windsheild washer tank and pump....

If it doesn't dim the panel lights, that is a clue right there that it is not working properly.

 

[miller]

When i hook up the negative cable to the battery you can see an electrical spark.That being said,my problem is that the dash lights stay on all the time.

You should check the wiring diagram for the headlight switch, and trace each wire. The dash lights should be in that wiring...kinda sounds like maybe a hot wire touching ground somewhere.

 

[JennyD]

I had a thread on this a month or two ago. The orange wire that goes into the back of the fuse box had rubbed against another terminal until it was bare, witch fed it power whenever the battery was hooked up. I would check there first .

 

[bschomske]

thanks jennyd and all of you guys who wrote in.its nice to know that there are people out there who are willing to help...I will have somethings to check now..I will have to get back to everyone on the update....

 

[oldbee]

Grounds &&&connections!!! 2months ago my washers worked, now they don't...New washer bottle&pump back then; we both have things to check!!