72 Dart Swinger has melted wiring under dash?

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dowboy1970

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Just bought the car.
Previous owner said he thought it was the regulator.
Pops in law said could be a gauge problem.

Car wont run?

Any ideas?

Thank you in advance.
 
one possible issue that my car had was the amp meeter gets rusty from the wiper pivot seals leaking onto it. This causes a massive voltage drop. A easy test is to use a voltage meter and test the voltage going into the balast resistor with the key on and see how close to the batter it is. If it is within 1 volt then it should still work that is not the optimal volt drop but should be usable to find the problem
 
one possible issue that my car had was the amp meeter gets rusty from the wiper pivot seals leaking onto it. This causes a massive voltage drop. A easy test is to use a voltage meter and test the voltage going into the balast resistor with the key on and see how close to the batter it is. If it is within 1 volt then it should still work that is not the optimal volt drop but should be usable to find the problem
Now that you say that.
Previous owner said it drained the battery fast and Pops said something about the resistance.
 
What makes you think "melted" AKA did you see smoke, etc? Have you examined some of the harness and it LOOKS melted?

First see what if anything works. If it wants to smoke, then put something like a tail lamp or head lamp in series with the battery ground. This will allow you to test it live

Look for the fuse link and see if it's "blown." It goes from the big stud on the starter relay to the RED wire in the bulkhead connector, out in the engine bay

Go to MyMopar and download yourself a free service manual. I think the 72 manual over there is Plymouth, not Dodge, Very little difference, except trim

Then come back here and we'll "play"
 
What makes you think "melted" AKA did you see smoke, etc? Have you examined some of the harness and it LOOKS melted?

First see what if anything works. If it wants to smoke, then put something like a tail lamp or head lamp in series with the battery ground. This will allow you to test it live

Look for the fuse link and see if it's "blown." It goes from the big stud on the starter relay to the RED wire in the bulkhead connector, out in the engine bay

Go to MyMopar and download yourself a free service manual. I think the 72 manual over there is Plymouth, not Dodge, Very little difference, except trim

Then come back here and we'll "play"
Thank you. It is going to be awhile. Had a small surgery a week ago and one more in a week.
Just getting ready and learning what I can in advance,
I have not personally put power to it yet.
 

Get a free downloadable manual/schematics from mymopar.com.
Invaluable much needed resource
Best of luck with surgeries
Will do. I have a pretty nice wire diagram . I was tokd that 72 Swinger was a one year only?
 
Will do. I have a pretty nice wire diagram . I was tokd that 72 Swinger was a one year only?
The best diagram is the factory diagram in the service manual. Its very complete, fewest errors, and all of the wires and connectors are labled. (As noted above you can download a digital copy from mymopar.com)
However because its complete, its difficult to read at first. Chrysler suggested that their techs trace or redraw the circuit(s) of interest into a working schematic. This makes it easier to see how the wires function and where a problem can be when testing.

Sometimes I will redraw the diagram yet again to represent the cable path through the car.

Here's a schematic based on the FSM showing the main power feeds. Black dots are splices.
upload_2022-3-25_7-9-40.png


You can make continuity and resistance tests without the battery connected.
There should be zero measurable resistance between battery positive clamp, and the
alternator output stud,
horn relay, key switch feed, fuse box hot

There should be no connection (open ) between each of those and ground.
If you don't have a multi-meter, a test light will work.
Any connection would be an electrical leak with the key off.
It also could be a short to ground.
 
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Service Manuals – MyMopar

The 1968 Master Tech Conference explains how to work with the wiring diagrams.
Browse MTSC by Model Year – 1968 – MyMopar

A good complete index of almost all of the Master Technician Service Conference is here:
Master Technician Service Conference - Chrysler's Training for Mechanics
Unfortunately the Imperial Club is having web issues and many of the links are dead.
If I have trouble viewing booklets at the Imp Club's I go to
Chrysler Master Tech Service Library – Browse Model Year – MyMopar for a pdf version.

also good to know is
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry Library Page (1970 - 1974)
has many Service manual Technical Service Bulletins with updates, corrections, and much much more.

To buy a copy in paper or on CD, try Bishko.
 
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