1979 electrical issue

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Sep 11, 2011 | 12:36 AM

springer89

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From: columbus ohio

1979 electrical issue

Today, my '79's tach started jumping all over the place. When i hit the turn signal, my kenwood stereo momentarily shuts off, but immediately comes back on. Tonight when i hit my brakes, the same thing happens.Brake, lose stereo, regain stereo. It will be fine for awhile, then it starts doing it again. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Sep 11, 2011 | 02:22 AM

SSG26K

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From: Waterbury CT.

1979 electrical issue

Check your instrument panel groung wire (ckt #150) at the left hindge pillar above the courtesy lamp. It's probably loose. They all connect to that same ground wire.

Sep 11, 2011 | 08:14 AM

thegazman

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From: Lewisburg WV

thegazman

Most stereos will shut down under a certain voltage. If you have the original alternator it's may not be meeting the electrical demand under heavy electrical loads. One way to over come the stereo problem is to use a relay to power it.

Sep 12, 2011 | 01:42 AM

springer89

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From: columbus ohio

SSG26K-Thanks, i will check the ground tomorrow. Tonight it did not do it.

thegazman- stereo worked fine until recently. It has been in the car for about 2 1/2 months. It is the original alternator . hopefully it will be a loose ground. the tach didn't act up tonight either, though i only drove it about 5 miles...

Sep 12, 2011 | 09:55 AM

jkjazzsax

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I had the same problem, turned out to be a bad ground.

Sep 12, 2011 | 10:26 PM

springer89

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From: columbus ohio

jkjazzsax- the same instrument panel ground wire mentioned before ? thanks

Sep 13, 2011 | 09:52 AM

jkjazzsax

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Quote:

Originally Posted by springer89

jkjazzsax- the same instrument panel ground wire mentioned before ? thanks

No. I can't remember which electrical ground it was under the hood, but somehow a single ground wire had fallen on the header and semi-melted to it. Check around with a good flashlight. If it's melted to your headers or intake or similar, it may still ground (sort of) which caused my TAC and stereo to fail intermittently.