[C2] electrical gremlins
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 377
From: Knoxville, TN
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
electrical gremlins
What doesn't work and what I've done.
Radio doesn't work. The radio fuse is good and adding a secondary ground doesn't help
No instrument lights to the clock, radio, temp and oil press gauges.
What does work:
Clock, tach / speedo / battery gauge lights and courtesy lights work
Any ideas?
Radio doesn't work. The radio fuse is good and adding a secondary ground doesn't help
No instrument lights to the clock, radio, temp and oil press gauges.
What does work:
Clock, tach / speedo / battery gauge lights and courtesy lights work
Any ideas?
Last edited by Captain Bud; Mar 16, 2026 at 03:15 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 231
Likes: 77
From: Pachuta, MS
Since some of the instruments lamps work and some don't, the most obvious and likely answer is bad bulbs but it could be bad grounds to the lamp sockets. A jumper from a good ground to the lamp socket should serve as a test after confirming that the bulb is good. Sadly after checking the fuse and ground, the radio probably needs to go to the hospital though there is always the possibility of a cold solder joint in the radio so you could try touching a 25W or so pencil iron to all the connections if you are comfortable with that sort of thing.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,167
Likes: 4,172
From: Kannapolis NC
If the radio is making no sound, it could be the speaker or the radio. Slide the am/fm switch up and down and rotate the volume control several times and see if you get any sound.
Most likely the light issues are bad bulbs, could be metal bulb holder not snapped in firmly, but would be rare for that many to be out. Pull the clock bulbs and see if they are blown, they are easier to get to than the gauge lights. There is also a bulb plugged into the case of the radio to light the dial up, but the voltage comes from the same source and fuse as the dash lights and it should light up with the headlight switch on whether the radio is or not. All those lamps should have a gray wire, they are all connected together.
Most likely the light issues are bad bulbs, could be metal bulb holder not snapped in firmly, but would be rare for that many to be out. Pull the clock bulbs and see if they are blown, they are easier to get to than the gauge lights. There is also a bulb plugged into the case of the radio to light the dial up, but the voltage comes from the same source and fuse as the dash lights and it should light up with the headlight switch on whether the radio is or not. All those lamps should have a gray wire, they are all connected together.
