'69 electrical problem
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
'69 electrical problem
I removed and replaced the steering column to replace some bulbs and all the repairs I made at the dash are fine,but now I have a problem with the tail lights.
With the headlights on both tail lights are on however the right side is brighter than the left. 2 filiments on the right and 1 on the left
When I turn the right turn signal on with the headlights on and KEY OFF the right tail light gets brighter and the left goes off.
When I turn the left turn signal on with the headlights on and KEY OFF the right stays bright and the left tail is dim. The indicator at the dash for the left turn is dim also.
I can't understand why the turn signal lever is causing a reaction in the tail lights with the key off.
If I disconnect the flat connector at the steering collumn with the headlights on the left side tail light goes out and the right stays the same.
All I can think of is that I must have developed a short or bad ground in the steering collumn when it was removed and replaced. Even though there was no work done to the collumn.
I'm at a loss!
Any Ideas???
With the headlights on both tail lights are on however the right side is brighter than the left. 2 filiments on the right and 1 on the left
When I turn the right turn signal on with the headlights on and KEY OFF the right tail light gets brighter and the left goes off.
When I turn the left turn signal on with the headlights on and KEY OFF the right stays bright and the left tail is dim. The indicator at the dash for the left turn is dim also.
I can't understand why the turn signal lever is causing a reaction in the tail lights with the key off.
If I disconnect the flat connector at the steering collumn with the headlights on the left side tail light goes out and the right stays the same.
All I can think of is that I must have developed a short or bad ground in the steering collumn when it was removed and replaced. Even though there was no work done to the collumn.
I'm at a loss!
Any Ideas???
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You have a ground issue for sure and your backfeeding voltage.
This may be in the parking lamp connectors, (which might explain the turn signal issue), the tail lamp connectors, side marker lamp and so on.
I don't have a schematic on this machine, but I'll take a look at one for you tomorrow. I'm sure someone else will post in here too.
Willcox
This may be in the parking lamp connectors, (which might explain the turn signal issue), the tail lamp connectors, side marker lamp and so on.
I don't have a schematic on this machine, but I'll take a look at one for you tomorrow. I'm sure someone else will post in here too.
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I agree with Willcox. If I were working on the car I would get my 15' jumper wire out and clip one end to the alt case and touch the other end to the lr brass outer bulb case and see if the bulb lights up.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Hey Roger
You know.. that is a great Idea! I've never thought of doing that..
Stolen now for sure.
The parking lamp jumper harness connections seem to be giving us fits of late... We've had two cars in the shop recently with issues in them. Replaced the jumpers.. lights all worked..
Willcox
You know.. that is a great Idea! I've never thought of doing that..
Stolen now for sure.The parking lamp jumper harness connections seem to be giving us fits of late... We've had two cars in the shop recently with issues in them. Replaced the jumpers.. lights all worked..
Willcox
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
I will jump a ground to the lamp in the morning and post my results.
How is the steering collumn grounded? Is it through the rag joint? Or is there a ground wire in the flat multi-pin connector at the base of the collumn?
I should point out that I did probe the flat connector, with a continuity tester, and found that the 3rd pin away from the steering wheel reacted the same as the left turn indicater and rear left turn lamp.
Thank you for your help. I am truly at a loss with this one.
How is the steering collumn grounded? Is it through the rag joint? Or is there a ground wire in the flat multi-pin connector at the base of the collumn?
I should point out that I did probe the flat connector, with a continuity tester, and found that the 3rd pin away from the steering wheel reacted the same as the left turn indicater and rear left turn lamp.
Thank you for your help. I am truly at a loss with this one.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Gordonville MO
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
Thanks for forwarding the wiring diagram.
Every thing was fine with the tail lights till I did some very simple wiring repairs in the dash(Extended the illumination lamp wires for the tach. and speedo and put them in their proper sockets.) I also installed a new radio with a dedicated ground for the radio.
Can't for the life of me figure why this would affect the performance of the tail lights. I was very careful not to pinch any wires when I re-installed the dash.
There is a Painless harness in the car, so color codes don't apply. But aside from some lamps not in their proper holes, everything was fine before.
I'm pretty sure there is some feedback somewhere and I just want to try to isolate where before I start taking things apart.
Thanks for the help.
Every thing was fine with the tail lights till I did some very simple wiring repairs in the dash(Extended the illumination lamp wires for the tach. and speedo and put them in their proper sockets.) I also installed a new radio with a dedicated ground for the radio.
Can't for the life of me figure why this would affect the performance of the tail lights. I was very careful not to pinch any wires when I re-installed the dash.
There is a Painless harness in the car, so color codes don't apply. But aside from some lamps not in their proper holes, everything was fine before.
I'm pretty sure there is some feedback somewhere and I just want to try to isolate where before I start taking things apart.
Thanks for the help.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Your statement above ,
["If I disconnect the flat connector at the steering column with the headlights on the left side tail light goes out and the right stays the same."]
"usually" means your ground is bad at the left taillight BECAUSE the flat harmonica connector only carries the brake and turn signals , the taillights take a different path through the rear body connector.
Its possible you have some wires crossed and a test light connected to the long ground will tell us that if your ground proves to be OK.
1 step at a time...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
I ran the jumper as you instructed and that seems to be the problem. Lights work properly.
Now I guess the question is..."Where did I lose the ground"?
Waiting for step 2.
Thank you!
Now I guess the question is..."Where did I lose the ground"?
Waiting for step 2.
Thank you!
Last edited by sly vette; Jan 28, 2011 at 03:55 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I'm pretty sure the left and right share a common ground so I'm guessing your lost ground will be at the light socket or the wire going to the common ground.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
Thank you for your reply and assistance.
I'm sure I can establish a proper ground for the malfunctioning fixtures now that I know where the problem lies.
I don't know however how the lost ground occurred with the work I did in relation to the dash. I guess electrical problems are funny that way. Thanks again!
I'm sure I can establish a proper ground for the malfunctioning fixtures now that I know where the problem lies.
I don't know however how the lost ground occurred with the work I did in relation to the dash. I guess electrical problems are funny that way. Thanks again!
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The rear lights have a shared ground to the frame, but on a painless harness I don't have a clue. Did you check the parking lamps? It's common for the connectors where the jumps plug in to corrode.
Willcox
Willcox