[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Darth Menace

Okay....I guess putting that new fuse in there just finished off that fuse holder. There is no power anymore. So it must be the fuse holder like you mentioned.

You don't say where it is dead. Check to see if both sides of the tail lamp fuse holder light your test light. If so, go to the instrument lamp fuse holder and see what is hot
and what is not. The fuse holders do not wear out...If it is rusty you can clean the fuse
holder contacts with an acid solution to remove the rust and it will be fine. You can buy rust remover at your local auto parts store.

[Darth Menace]

I have added this on my "to do" list of aesthetic stuff. I am so close to being done all the mechanical/safety issues that I want to power through them so I can get to the fun stuff. I have new window cranks to put in as well, but I have forced myself not to do anything aesthetics until I am done the serious portions of it.

I am almost done, if I can get these dash lights working it should be smooth sailing. Thanks for the info. I will try this on the taillights as well.

Originally Posted by 68gtoMN

Darth, also regarding your gauge lenses, there is a super simple, inexpensive way to clean them (even while in the dash) to make them clear (remove scratches and discoloration to some degree). Take an old athletic sock and some Johnson's Paste Wax. put wax on sock, rub lenses in quick circular motions with some pressure. the mild abrassive's in the wax will polish out the lens. The the lubrication of the wax will make the swirling action smooth.

I press fairly hard when rubbing. do this for 15 seconds on one portion of a lens, then wipe clean and note the difference. There are also similar products available for plastic polishing, but I had the wax at home and it was very successful. See if something like that helps you also.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

You don't say where it is dead. Check to see if both sides of the tail lamp fuse holder light your test light. If so, go to the instrument lamp fuse holder and see what is hot
and what is not. The fuse holders do not wear out...If it is rusty you can clean the fuse
holder contacts with an acid solution to remove the rust and it will be fine. You can buy rust remover at your local auto parts store.

I seriously don't know why, but the right side of the fuse holder WAS getting power when the fuse was out, but then I go get fresh fuses, install one and now the right side is getting no power whatsoever. What the F. So close, yet so far

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Darth Menace

I seriously don't know why, but the right side of the fuse holder WAS getting power when the fuse was out, but then I go get fresh fuses, install one and now the right side is getting no power whatsoever. What the F. So close, yet so far

Darth, if the fuse holder is dead on the instrument lights you have a problem at the tail lamp fuse or fuse holder. Check for power on both sides there.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

Darth, if the fuse holder is dead on the instrument lights you have a problem at the tail lamp fuse or fuse holder. Check for power on both sides there.

Taillights work perfect. The test light shows everything works there as well.

[Ben M.]

I just got done rebuilding my dash and wiring harness, if I can do it and make it work you can too ;-)

See here.

It's pretty straightforward to get to everything and test the voltages you are expecting to see. I'm still thinking there's a problem with grounds as that makes the dash lights do funny things in my experience.

[Darth Menace]

It really shouldn't be thist difficult. Fixing the exterior lights in a few days was easier than this. I must just be missing something here. This is extra annoying considering this is my home stretch!

PS-Congrats at all the projects you've completed in such a short amount of time. I wish I had that skill

Originally Posted by Ben M.

I just got done rebuilding my dash and wiring harness, if I can do it and make it work you can too ;-)

See here.

It's pretty straightforward to get to everything and test the voltages you are expecting to see. I'm still thinking there's a problem with grounds as that makes the dash lights do funny things in my experience.

[gtohurstjudge]

Darth, check your back seat and see if you find Rod Serling sitting there smoking a cigarette. If not, take the bolts out of the fuse block where it bolts to the firewall and unsnap
it from the base and look behind it too see why current isn't getting from the tail lamp fuse to the instrument light fuse.

[Darth Menace]

double post

[Darth Menace]

I didn't see any Rod Serling in the back (I had to look him up, and I apologize because I don't get your joke), but when I looked I saw Elton John and Freddy Mercury back there. Time for a steam clean.

I went today to take the cover off, but I have to admit I chickened out. I am afraid of what is back there and I don't want to accidentally unplug stuff and have another wiring gremlin. This is a horrible avoidance tactic by me because I am worried. I did new accessory/drive belts instead (that belt installation tool works like a dream), and took off the front brake lines so I could replace them. So there was some good that happened

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

Darth, check your back seat and see if you find Rod Serling sitting there smoking a cigarette. If not, take the bolts out of the fuse block where it bolts to the firewall and unsnap
it from the base and look behind it too see why current isn't getting from the tail lamp fuse to the instrument light fuse.

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Darth Menace

I didn't see any Rod Serling in the back (I had to look him up, and I apologize because I don't get your joke), but when I looked I saw Elton John and Freddy Mercury back there. Time for a steam clean.

I went today to take the cover off, but I have to admit I chickened out. I am afraid of what is back there and I don't want to accidentally unplug stuff and have another wiring gremlin. This is a horrible avoidance tactic by me because I am worried. I did new accessory/drive belts instead (that belt installation tool works like a dream), and took off the front brake lines so I could replace them. So there was some good that happened

Nothing will be unplugged from you removing the front of the fuse box and flipping it over....no worries....as long as Rod isn't sitting in your car! If you didn't know who Rod Serling was, you probably never watched the Twilight Zone on TV....Check it out....one of the best shows of all time!

[Darth Menace]

Odd, when I see you say the best show of all time is the Twilight Zone, I read the best show of all time is the A-team. Mr. T is the man!

Back on topic, I have been avoiding this for a few days, but this avoidance tactic gave me some time to replace the front brake lines, and install the lower valance after taking it off to fix the lighting. I am loving the fact that in theory I am almost done. I will take off the cover as soon as I am able to.

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

Nothing will be unplugged from you removing the front of the fuse box and flipping it over....no worries....as long as Rod isn't sitting in your car! If you didn't know who Rod Serling was, you probably never watched the Twilight Zone on TV....Check it out....one of the best shows of all time!

[tiacguy]

I'm going to say your having ground issues. Not all of the wiring in these cars are fused on the "hot" side. A lot of the light fuses are on the negative returns going to the fuse block. Low voltage "dim lights" are a product of bad grounds.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by tiacguy

I'm going to say your having ground issues. Not all of the wiring in these cars are fused on the "hot" side. A lot of the light fuses are on the negative returns going to the fuse block. Low voltage "dim lights" are a product of bad grounds.

Well, all's well that ends well. I ended up getting angry at it and decided to put the lighting back together on the front. I got everything done and tightened up. I decided to go back to the dash and low and behold it worked. I don't know if it was just a miracle or something was up with the front exterior lighting, but something did it. What a day...it only took over a year of me avoiding it, but glad to have it done. All my provincial inspection to do list is done. Time to get a tune and ready to rock.

Thanks so much for the help guys

[gtohurstjudge]

Darth, I thought all of your exterior lights were hooked up and working....
When you have disconnected grounds at the front lights, you get a feedback that can kill power to the dash lights. Sorry, I didn't realize you had a bunch of things on the main exterior lights disconnected. Glad everything is working now.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

Darth, I thought all of your exterior lights were hooked up and working....
When you have disconnected grounds at the front lights, you get a feedback that can kill power to the dash lights. Sorry, I didn't realize you had a bunch of things on the main exterior lights disconnected. Glad everything is working now.

Well they were hooked up a while ago but the dash light didn't work...then it went to paint and they messed it up again. I fixed the lighting (again)recently and when I put it back together the dash lights started to work. I am guessing that my first fix there was still something a tad off and this most recent time it worked out better. Either way...thanks for the assistance. Glad it is up and running.