Year?
Electrical question.
I have an electrical problem I’m trying to wrap my head around.
Dissasembled my dash to replace my gauge cluster, redo the radio, repaint, and then replace my heater core and wiring.
Swapped out the gauge cluster, and tested the lights with them all working. Then plugged back in the wiper switch and seated cluster as well as screwed in.
Went to check the cluster one last time and they lit up but then went dark.
Thought that may be the battery was low, so pulled it out and placed on a charger for two hours. Placed back in and the lights lit up and the wipers worked but then everything clicked off again.
I’m assuming there’s a short somewhere but not sure where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions? 
Dissasembled my dash to replace my gauge cluster, redo the radio, repaint, and then replace my heater core and wiring.
Swapped out the gauge cluster, and tested the lights with them all working. Then plugged back in the wiper switch and seated cluster as well as screwed in.
Went to check the cluster one last time and they lit up but then went dark.
Thought that may be the battery was low, so pulled it out and placed on a charger for two hours. Placed back in and the lights lit up and the wipers worked but then everything clicked off again.
I’m assuming there’s a short somewhere but not sure where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions? 
1 - 20 of 67 Posts
Sorry 68 convertible with 200 ci engine.Year?
I forgot I also swapped out the starter solenoid too.
I’m far from an electrical expert but if you had a short I’d think it would blow a fuse and it would not have relit the 2nd time at all. Maybe a loose connection somewhere would be my first guess.
I was thinking that too but same as you, I'm no electrical expertI’m far from an electrical expert but if you had a short I’d think it would blow a fuse and it would not have relit the 2nd time at all. Maybe a loose connection somewhere would be my first guess.
I'm guessing bad connection or bad ground. Clean and re-check all the connections.
Does the 68 have the two resetting circuit breakers in the headlight switch like the 65/66? If so you probably have a short and it keeps tripping and resetting?
How would I know?Does the 68 have the two resetting circuit breakers in the headlight switch like the 65/66? If so you probably have a short and it keeps tripping and resetting?
Also, something weird, walked away from the car to take care of other things came back up route one hour later and found the headlights on. However, the keys were out of the ignition, and the headlight switch was all the way in/off.
Any ideas?
Pinched wire behind the cluster?
I know I probably need to take the cluster back out, but it took so much effort to finally get it in. It breaks my heart to remove it againPinched wire behind the cluster?
Definitely understood!I know I probably need to take the cluster back out, but it took so much effort to finally get it in. It breaks my heart to remove it again
Or something loosened up while trying to get it installed I’m thinking.Pinched wire behind the cluster?
For the 7 cluster lights, check the 2.5A fuse.How would I know?
Also, something weird, walked away from the car to take care of other things came back up route one hour later and found the headlights on. However, the keys were out of the ignition, and the headlight switch was all the way in/off.
Any ideas?
The headlights don't need the key on, but they do need the knob out. Check that the knob shaft is engaged with the switch, but it sounds like a bad light switch, which could also cause a problem with the cluster lights.
I will check the fuse tomorrow, but it is a brand new headlight switch. I installed it three weeks ago.For the 7 cluster lights, check the 2.5A fuse.
The headlights don't need the key on, but they do need the knob out. Check that the knob shaft is engaged with the switch, but it sounds like a bad light switch, which could also cause a problem with the cluster lights.
is there anyway to check it?
If I may,
I had a similar problem after I installed my Dakota Digital cluster.
Mine turned out to be one of the main connectors on the firewall going to the engine bay. I thought it was all the way seated, but it was only partially seated.
Just a thought,
Cheers,
Shannon
I had a similar problem after I installed my Dakota Digital cluster.
Mine turned out to be one of the main connectors on the firewall going to the engine bay. I thought it was all the way seated, but it was only partially seated.
Just a thought,
Cheers,
Shannon
So you’re saying that it wasn’t seated all the way in the cluster?If I may,
I had a similar problem after I installed my Dakota Digital cluster.
Mine turned out to be one of the main connectors on the firewall going to the engine bay. I thought it was all the way seated, but it was only partially seated.
Just a thought,
Cheers,
Shannon
What happened to me, is after I installed the cluster I had accidentally dislodged the main harness connector that goes through the fire wall on my car It's tucked away behind the brake booster. this affected the blinkers, the car would not start, and the cluster no longer worked. That main harness connector has about 8-10 pins in it and only about 2/3rds were making solid contact. I found it by leaving the key in the on position and started moving all the wires under the dash until I came across that one by wiggling it and the dash came on. Viola! re-seated the plug all the way in and all was solved.So you’re saying that it wasn’t seated all the way in the cluster?
I have had repro headlight switches fail right out of the package. Unfortunately new doesn’t mean good on some parts.I will check the fuse tomorrow, but it is a brand new headlight switch. I installed it three weeks ago.
is there anyway to check it?
You need to be a bit of a detective. I would start the headlight switch and assume it is popping the circuit breaker. So you need to pull out the wiring diagram and find everything that gets powered through the CB. Disconnect as many as possible and try it again. If it still pops, you Need to look at the wiring and anything still connected. Consider sending the main harness to Midlife. If it doesn’t pop, plug in one item at a time until you find the bad device.
Since all the replacement switches list as the same from 65-70, this shows the internal switching:I will check the fuse tomorrow, but it is a brand new headlight switch. I installed it three weeks ago.
is there anyway to check it?
1. Knob in (off), B-A closed
2. Knob in Park, B-P and B-R closed
3. Knob out (ON), B-H and B-R closed
4. Knob out turned CCW, B-I= low resistance, turned CW, high resistance
5. Knob turned CCW, D1-D2 closed, and turned CW, D1-D2 open
1 - 20 of 67 Posts
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