help needed with electrical issues in dash!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 6
From: CT
help needed with electrical issues in dash!
have a few wiring issues with my 75 coupe. Since i had the car the dash gauge lights never worked, the dash light fuse kept blowing out so I figured i have a short. When I replace fuse the lights will work but not long, sometimes they work for few mins and sometimes the fuse will blow upon pulling headlight switch.
Another issue i have is with the tail lights, The drivers side tail stays on the brake light (brighter) setting whenever the headlights are on. Its like the brake light is stuck running, but the passenger side functions correctly and both tail light and brighter brake light works. I put a new bulb in and it still does it.
The last issue i'm having is with the charging system, I have dual electric fans but run a cs144 200amp alternator from quick start. I recently installed a digital voltmeter to monitor charging and I'm getting crazy readings, somethings I'm at 13.3-14.0v at idle and other times im at 10.5-11.5v. The voltage goes all over the place whether I'm driving it or its idling, and it doesn't matter if fans are on or not. This same problem occurred with the stock alternator as well. Sometimes I stop at traffic lights and the charging system shows 10.5-11v and the idle drops and motor sounds bad like spark plugs are fouled out, but then at next light or stop sign and I'm at 13.3-13.5v and idle is back to normal? I have a newer optima red top battery that tested out good, the alternator is new, and the I upgraded to larger wiring off the alternator.
I figured maybe I have a bad headlight switch, ground problem, or wire short. I had an extra good used headlight switch I swapped in but found a broken/cut wire behind drivers side dash. I haven't tested the switch out yet because I wanted to find out what broken wire was for.
Heres a picture of cut wire, what is it for? could it be grounding out and causing my issues? theres a pink wire with black stripe and an orange wire, the orange wire looks like it was pinched and broke or someone cut it. Its a weird looking plug, not sure if its even used for anything.
any suggestions will be helpful.
Another issue i have is with the tail lights, The drivers side tail stays on the brake light (brighter) setting whenever the headlights are on. Its like the brake light is stuck running, but the passenger side functions correctly and both tail light and brighter brake light works. I put a new bulb in and it still does it.
The last issue i'm having is with the charging system, I have dual electric fans but run a cs144 200amp alternator from quick start. I recently installed a digital voltmeter to monitor charging and I'm getting crazy readings, somethings I'm at 13.3-14.0v at idle and other times im at 10.5-11.5v. The voltage goes all over the place whether I'm driving it or its idling, and it doesn't matter if fans are on or not. This same problem occurred with the stock alternator as well. Sometimes I stop at traffic lights and the charging system shows 10.5-11v and the idle drops and motor sounds bad like spark plugs are fouled out, but then at next light or stop sign and I'm at 13.3-13.5v and idle is back to normal? I have a newer optima red top battery that tested out good, the alternator is new, and the I upgraded to larger wiring off the alternator.
I figured maybe I have a bad headlight switch, ground problem, or wire short. I had an extra good used headlight switch I swapped in but found a broken/cut wire behind drivers side dash. I haven't tested the switch out yet because I wanted to find out what broken wire was for.
Heres a picture of cut wire, what is it for? could it be grounding out and causing my issues? theres a pink wire with black stripe and an orange wire, the orange wire looks like it was pinched and broke or someone cut it. Its a weird looking plug, not sure if its even used for anything.
any suggestions will be helpful.
Last edited by L-82kid; Sep 25, 2011 at 10:51 PM.
