What is the difference?

What is the difference between the 1972 A-body dashboard wiring harnesses? A running change was made in November 1971. For those with failing memories, and those who were too young to appreciate, there was a lot of nonsense going on at the time with regards to cars and Federal, and California, regulations. This was about the time that we got EGR, seat belt warning buzzers and lights, catalytic converters, the notorious seat belt/ignition interlock, SAE net horsepower, unleaded fuel, and the first Arab oil embargo. On the A-body there are three standard different instrument panels. Gauges were the same but one had no warning lights apart from the instrument cluster, another had one light and another had two. What did the warning lights not in the instrument cluster say. I thought one read "Fasten Seat Belts" while another read "Check EGR". Do any of the FABO members recall what the lights were for. I have one with a single hole, with no lens. Think I will work something that when a part throttle downshift occurs it will read "Shut Up Hang On."

Stick a shift light in it

moparmat2000 said:

Stick a shift light in it

Click to expand...

Haven't seen one of those in the instrument cluster. I recall seeing a little chrome blob under the dash on 4-speed cars. The ones I remebered had a square amber lens that announced that Reverse was now engaged. IIRC it was connected to the backup light circuit. In those days you had to put stick-shift cars into reverse before you could get the key out.

Yessir, a lot of regulatory foolishness going on back in the day. The gubmit was trying hard to save us from ourselves.

Had a 74 dart parts car that had the fasten seat belts light and EGR light. I believe 74 was the only year for the seatbelt starter interlock where you had to have the belt buckled or the car wouldent start. People used to just leave them buckled back then and would just sit on top of them.

moparmat2000 said:

Had a 74 dart parts car that had the fasten seat belts light and EGR light. I believe 74 was the only year for the seatbelt starter interlock where you had to have the belt buckled or the car wouldent start. People used to just leave them buckled back then and would just sit on top of them.

Click to expand...

Thanks for answering my question. Another work around to the seatbelt starter interlock was to reach underneath the seat and pull the plug on the seat sensor.

You would have to pull the plug and then loop the connection. The sensor closes under weight to complete the connection. With it unplugged it's still an open connection.