electrical problem (dash)

[daniel w. stien]

Hello, I recently bought a 75 dodge dart Swinger and after replacing all the dash light bulbs and sockets i only have dash light on the right side of the dash. left turn signal works, right blinker light does not.( blinker works on car and fender but doesn't flash on dash) also don't seem to have power to left side of dash lights and no fuel gauge power as well. I know its a lot to ask but they never worked when i bought the car. things I've done: new headlight switch and replaced the bulbs and bulb sockets. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Dan

 

[Pateras]

Fuses? bulbs good? all grounds good? I'm assuming you didn't have power to your new sockets (before you replaced them.)..

 

[70dustah]

First, is cluster reattached with screws, or just hanging? I know some of the clusters receive ground through the mounting screws. I attach a ground wire directly to the cluster circuit board . Did you thoroughly inspect the lamp sockets for broken tabs or locks? Did you lightly scuff up the contacts on the board? Were they all working before you replaced the bulbs?

 

[g413]

Very often there are so many wires that need to connect to the dash, that the factory divided them up into two plug connectors. On my 64 Sport Fury, one plug connects to the printed circuit on the left side of the speedometer, and one plug connects to the right side circuit board -- and there is no interconnection. Even the L & R turn signal indicators are on different boards.

Because of your "left-right" issue, I would suspect that either the plug or the ground connection is loose or not connected on one of the circuit boards. I'm not sure if your car is wired that way, but you could check your service manual wiring diagram.

 

[daniel w. stien]

the sockets and bulbs were brand new. everything is plug in the way it is suppose to. i also replaced the headlight switch. it had a ground tab on it so i did ground the switch. when i turn on the lights i only get the lights (two sockets) to light up.( right side of dash),it seem that only the right side of the dash is getting power. was just wondering if the left side of the dash receives power thought the light switch or some other source?

 

[krazykuda]

It sounds like one of the circuit boards may not have a good contact to the power or ground...

 

[daniel w. stien]

dash is mounted with screws, all fuses, light sockets and bulbs are good (new). i also lost power to my fuel gauge.

 

[halifaxhops]

It sounds like one of the circuit boards may not have a good contact to the power or ground...

Or one of the ribbons are broken on the printed circuit

 

[RogerRamRod]

Not sure what the 75 is like, but on my 68, the "pins" that the wire harness plugs into (on the circuit board) are only pressed then crimped in. while I was in there, I hit each pin-to-circuit trace joint with a dab of solder.

 

[krazykuda]

Or one of the ribbons are broken on the printed circuit

Yes, poke around in there with a continuity tester.... :glasses7:

 

[halifaxhops]

Or ohm meter for the rest of us! LOL

 

[krazykuda]

Or ohm meter for the rest of us! LOL

Doesn't that measure how good you are at meditation.... Ohm... Ohm... Ohm....

 

[halifaxhops]

OHM I think so!

 

[Sedanman]

Lol. Did your fuel guage work before? That may be a sending unit issue. I would check the wire down at the tank and also make sure it's grounded once you do what they said above. I have some spare circuit boards if you need 1.

 

[Rustedwrench]

Do not assume the bulb sockets are good just because they are new. I have gotten sockets on which the socket contacts did not actually contact the printed circuit board when the socket was plugged in. The contacts on the socket can be bent slightly to make contact if that is the case.

 

[daniel w. stien]

Good News!!! First i would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!! and a Happy New Year. I would also like to thank everyone for there advise it was very helpful.
I was able to get my dash lights working by soldering the pin connections on the rear of my dash and rechecking all the light bulbs and sockets. I believe it might have been a lose pin. They work great now. Thank you All for all your Help.
Daniel W. Stien