Electrical gremlin

[Germy]

New wiring harness. Problem just started yesterday, the wiring has been in for a year. It seems bump related, sitting still in garage doesn't do it. My lights, gauge lights and gauges flash then my shift light on my tach flashes. Any ideas? I've wiggled everything. Why is tach light flashing if its losing power?


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[Old Dog]

If your headlights are flashing also it might be in the headlight switch or dimmer switch. Try jiggling them.

 

[Germy]

Didnt think of the dimmer.

 

[Germy]

Why would gauges be zeroing or doing full sweep, they are not controlled by dimmer. I'm going to inspect around the bulkhead


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[Germy]

Headlights, gauges, gauge lights, tail lights all go out. Ive wiggled everything. Just keep on looking, bound to find it.

 

[dunebuggy18]

I think every issue you describe comes through the light switch, so I would focus there. Since there are two power leads (originally Red & White) I don't think the switch is bad (although it's a possiblity), I would think the switch wiring connector is the more likely culprit.

 

[Germy]

Ill check it out, couldn't see attached image

 

[dunebuggy18]

Ill check it out, couldn't see attached image

Sorry Germy, it was just a image of the lighting circuit.

Basically it just showed that the original harness used two hot wires (hot all the time) to the light switch. These two 12v leads (White and Red) supply power to pretty much every light circuit (and a few others). Assuming that your wiring is still routed like this, that is the most likely point of failure. Let us know what you find!

 

[Germy]

Sorry Germy, it was just a image of the lighting circuit.

Basically it just showed that the original harness used two hot wires (hot all the time) to the light switch. These two 12v leads (White and Red) supply power to pretty much every light circuit (and a few others). Assuming that your wiring is still routed like this, that is the most likely point of failure. Let us know what you find!

Are we talking headlight switch or floor high beam switch?

 

[Old Dog]

Are we talking headlight switch or floor high beam switch?

Power goes through both.

 

[Germy]

Power goes through both.

Yeah, but does it power gauges? Not lights on gauges, but actualy powering the gauges for readings

 

[Old Dog]

Not sure where the main power to the gauges come from on yours with the painless harness. I would think from a different hot wire though.
The power for the gauge lights should be coming through both switches.

 

[1986cj7]

Not sure where the main power to the gauges come from on yours with the painless harness. I would think from a different hot wire though.
The power for the gauge lights should be coming through both switches.

I believe the power to the gauges to operate is routed though your ignition switch that is connected to the ignition cylinder lock. Other wise your gauges would be on all the time and not only when the switch is in the run postion. Also I would check your grounds.

 

[dunebuggy18]

I believe the power to the gauges to operate is routed though your ignition switch that is connected to the ignition cylinder lock. Other wise your gauges would be on all the time and not only when the switch is in the run postion. Also I would check your grounds.

Yep, the gauges (at least for the original wiring) power comes from the ignition switch, except the tach, which comes from the same circuit as the lights (go figure???)

Edit: Gauges lights do come from the lighting circuit, gauge operating circuits come from the ignition switch.

 

[Germy]

So this could be at starter solenoid or column. I say solenoid because that is switched on from column, right? I took the dimmer out, jiggled everything, checked two grounds, one at bulkhead, one to block. I think this is going to be a wonder for a while.


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[Germy]

This has to be from the solenoid to bulk head. The lights and gauges are on different circuits. I hit a bump and gauges zero and lights flash, meaning both power supplies are going out. So it has to be bulkhead to battery. Does this sound logical?


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[Germy]

Found it! The bulkhead needed to be drawn closer together, I didn't see the center screw through wires


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[thiswontbetooexpensive]

Good deal, glad you found it!

 

[dunebuggy18]

Found it! The bulkhead needed to be drawn closer together, I didn't see the center screw through wires


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Very cool! Can you get a picture?

 

[Germy]

View attachment 14601

It's buried in the square of wires, about an inch and a half in