help wiring issues

[85 cj desert runner]

Hey guys, new on this forum. Looking to see if there is anyone in the Fredericksburg VA area that would be willing to help me with some electrical issues. Just had someone help do a body swap and a lot of other upgrades. Did a painless wiring upgrade with new speedo and fuel sending unit. Now none of my gauges work. I am a complete illiterate on electric stuf (mechanically to) so I am in dire need of help, also installed an hei distributor and motorcraft 2300 carb that need a little help.
Any help would be appreciated

 

[Torxhead]

The CJs gauges get their power from the ign/lps fuse, that fuse gets its power from the red wire w/tracer out of the ignition switch that goes to the icm. I would think you would have got a wiring diagram from the painless kit. It is possible you could have blown out the fusible links coming from the hot side of the starter relay.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

HE did a painless wire harness swap so he needs to refer back to the directions and diagrams.

 

[Hedgehog]

Your question is a little wide to handle well on a forum. You need to start with one or two direct questions. When those are worked out, move on to the next. An example would be, "What color wire goes from the starter seloniod to the ignition switch?" Start simple and work your way from there.

In the ral world there is very little effort more worth while than spending time grinding it out with your wiring and the diagram. You'll learn things like, "certain color groups go to the rear lights." or "the Hot all the time wires are a color (red) and the switched Hot wires are another (yellow)." After a couple frustrating hours and a nights rest things will actually start making sence. I'm not working with a painless harness, eventually that will have to happen though. For a month or two I've been chasing electrical deamons from place to place. Only time with the jeep will teach you things like, the hazard switch is finicky, or if you loose your tail lights squeeze the turn signal plug. That sort of thing will help you find the real problem .... eventually. You can count yourself lucky. Your wires and connections are new, reducing that sort of fault. Good luck and stick to it.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Make sure your grounds are good.

 

[Neuner]

Make sure your grounds are good.

I think that one sentence should be made just a Title in the Sticky section. No comment, nothing. Just that sentence.

 

[85 cj desert runner]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will start with the fuel sending unit and make sure the grounds are good there and check all the other grounds on other areas. How do I go about making sure I have power to the fuel gauge? Havent really messed with a multimeter before.

 

[Torxhead]

Then I would suggest getting an automotive type multimeter with instructions, then start playing with it. Like how to check for stuff like voltage and resistance. Wiring schematics for your vehicle are a good thing again. See how many volts your battery reads when your vehicle is running, which should be around 14.5 volts for starters.

 

[Posi]

I am a complete illiterate on electric stuf (mechanically to)

You have two choices (especially owning an old CJ), learn how to do it yourself, or pay a professional.

Unless you have deep pockets and can pay for the work I would suggest signing up for a night course at a nearby tech school and/or purchase a factory service manual. Owning a FSM and some basic tools gives you the opportunely to completely rebuild your Jeep if you so choose.