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Electrical Problem on 68' Westy

Ok, let me try to explain this. With the headlights off, the left turn signal works fine both front and back. The flasher sounds normal and the signal indicator on the dash works fine. The right turn signal works front and back for one flash and than the front signal light gets weaker but continues to flash. The flasher sounds normal for one flash and than weakens. The signal indicator on the dash flashes once and goes out in time with the reduced flasher sound. Now turn on the headlights - There is a front passenger parking light (seems to bright), no passenger rear parking light. No drivers front parking light, but the drivers rear parking light works. The left turn signal works both front and back, the flasher sounds normal and the dash indicator works about every other flash. The right front turn signal does not work, but the parking light remains on. The right rear turn signal works, but the parking light does not come on.

Other items to note: The emergency flashers work. The license plate light does not come on and the reverse lights do not work. All fuses are good. The right front passengers signal light is caroded but appears to be functional. The lights are stuck on btight, but I think that is a signal switch problem.

Any ideas what to check?? The front signal lights have a tab on the back of the socket. Should that be connected to anything?

Reply to
Fish
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I would have to sit down at car with voltmeter in hand, but offhand most of these sound like grounding problems.

Up front, there is a Brw ground wire from the headlights and from the signal lights. They attach inside the Bus above your feet. If making poor contact (either there or at the socket) the funny things you describe will happen.

Go over the grounds both frt and rear first. That should sort some of the problems and make it a little easier to go on.

Reply to
Speedy Jim

Thanks Speedy Jim, I actually got the problems sorted out and you are partially right regarding the ground wires. Here is what I found. While troubleshooting the right signal light, I noticed the parking light was brighter than the signal light. I switched the wires on the signal assembly and all the turn signals worked and the dash indicator worked. The passenger rear parking light was a bad bulb. Once that was replaced, the license plate light worked also. Now for the fun one, the driver front parking light. With my VOM, I measured 0 volts on the wire connected to the parking light tab when the parking lights were on. Once more, that wire measured directly to ground. I followed it inside the passenger compartment where it was bolted diretly to the chasis. I moved that wire to the ground tab on the light assembly and realized there was now a wire missing. I followed the wire down from the fuse box and found it burried in the insulation in front of the foot pedals. Connected it up and away it went. It seems that the previous owner did not put things together correctly after having the vehicle painted.

Now the only problem left is the reverse lights. The wiring diagram shows an in-line fuse. Do you know where that fuse is located?

Thanks for your help!

Reply to
Fish

LOL! Good job finding all those things.

The in-line fuse connects to the coil + terminal and is clipped to the fan shroud (should be).

Reply to
Speedy Jim

Got the reverse lights. Another case of not putting things together. I'm guessing this time it was the mechanic who rebult the engine. Checked the bulbs and followed the wire back to where it exits the engine compartment. Found another wire coming through the engine compartment at the same place, but it just ended laying on the floor of the engine compartment. Just to make sure it was the correct wire, I hooked up my VOM and verified that the resistance changed when shifting in and out of reverse, which it did. I hooked it to the coil (in line fuse is gone), but the lights didn't light....damn! With the transmission in reverse I measured 12v at the lights. Remembering your advice about grounds, I cleaned and installed new ground connectors where necessary and away they went. Lots of "good enough" work on this vehicle. Oh well, when I get it all done it will be all the more sweeter to drive.

Thanks again for your help!

Fish

Reply to
Fish

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