Ignition wires explained please??

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jfive

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i am in the process of rewiring the 70 Dart Swinger and i have the steering column left. well to be specific the ignition wiring to be figured out. in my original harness it has yellow, black, blue, brown, red, and a smaller black. i know where all go except the small black one. any ideas? next i see the crushed orange i will have to remedy. then the 2 reds, they were connected wires on the original harness. in the manual it shows they go a reminder buzzer and the ither to the headlamp switch. i dont have (or didnt know i had) a buzzer, lol. and as for the other i dont see it referenced in the new wiring manual so i will be contacting them to see what they have to say as well. but could i just not use them if i dont have a buzzer?

the only thing that really make me think i will be taking the wheel off is that the orange wire was tapped into that thin black one. i see it is where it is supposed to be where the orange is on the connector, so......any ideas why they orange and small black where tied together or what the black could be and if the reds are needed i would appreciate it immensely.

ignition wires.jpg


splice balck orange.jpg


ign diag.jpg
 
Looks like orange is power to gear shift letters on column and black is ground.
that would be a separate ground for that?

i know not why the PO would have tied the orange to that black then.....but that being said i am removing the wheel anyways top find out what wires are really connected, it just seemed odd to me that the "factory harness" (i use that loosely cause i have no idea if it is original or not) would have it and not have indicated that wire in the manual. thanks for the suggestion, but i am thinking i will be pulling the wheel anyways i guess, need to find out what exactly is wired up in there and how.
 
that would be a separate ground for that?

i know not why the PO would have tied the orange to that black then.....but that being said i am removing the wheel anyways top find out what wires are really connected, it just seemed odd to me that the "factory harness" (i use that loosely cause i have no idea if it is original or not) would have it and not have indicated that wire in the manual. thanks for the suggestion, but i am thinking i will be pulling the wheel anyways i guess, need to find out what exactly is wired up in there and how.
Hmm, well the black could be the ground for that whole connector and all associated with it. The bulb is most likely grounded at the socket. Yea I'm going through the same. I never met the previous owner either, nor do I want to else I punch him.
Engine and dash wiring a disaster and had to rewire it all. Soo I had to bite the bullet and get my cluster rebuilt by Instrument Specialties in RI-luckily. I'm still awaiting it like a nervous new dad pacing the floor.
 

We can't help you wire your car over the internet. No one's perfected that yet. However, if you'll pop over to mymopar.com and get into the service manual library, the service manual for your car is there. It's a free download and it has the complete wiring diagram in it.
 
We can't help you wire your car over the internet. No one's perfected that yet. However, if you'll pop over to mymopar.com and get into the service manual library, the service manual for your car is there. It's a free download and it has the complete wiring diagram in it.
i have the manual already but as pictured on my OP it doesnt have the thinner black it shows the orange in the spot it is on the connector and no reference to the thinner black wire
 
i am in the process of rewiring the 70 Dart Swinger and i have the steering column left. well to be specific the ignition wiring to be figured out. in my original harness it has yellow, black, blue, brown, red, and a smaller black. i know where all go except the small black one. any ideas? next i see the crushed orange i will have to remedy. then the 2 reds, they were connected wires on the original harness. in the manual it shows they go a reminder buzzer and the ither to the headlamp switch. i dont have (or didnt know i had) a buzzer, lol. and as for the other i dont see it referenced in the new wiring manual so i will be contacting them to see what they have to say as well. but could i just not use them if i dont have a buzzer?

the only thing that really make me think i will be taking the wheel off is that the orange wire was tapped into that thin black one. i see it is where it is supposed to be where the orange is on the connector, so......any ideas why they orange and small black where tied together or what the black could be and if the reds are needed i would appreciate it immensely.

View attachment 1716495306

View attachment 1716495312

View attachment 1716495313
Oh I knew I meant to address something else. GET THAT RING OFF! You can ground or short yourself REAL quick if you're not careful. I had to cut a classmate's class ring off his finger in high school auto shop class about 1980. He grounded out on a car battery. It was NOT pretty.
 
i am in the process of rewiring the 70 Dart Swinger and i have the steering column left. well to be specific the ignition wiring to be figured out. in my original harness it has yellow, black, blue, brown, red, and a smaller black. i know where all go except the small black one. any ideas? next i see the crushed orange i will have to remedy. then the 2 reds, they were connected wires on the original harness. in the manual it shows they go a reminder buzzer and the ither to the headlamp switch. i dont have (or didnt know i had) a buzzer, lol. and as for the other i dont see it referenced in the new wiring manual so i will be contacting them to see what they have to say as well. but could i just not use them if i dont have a buzzer?

the only thing that really make me think i will be taking the wheel off is that the orange wire was tapped into that thin black one. i see it is where it is supposed to be where the orange is on the connector, so......any ideas why they orange and small black where tied together or what the black could be and if the reds are needed i would appreciate it immensely.

View attachment 1716495306

View attachment 1716495312

View attachment 1716495313

From the picture and description, it appears that your Dart may have a service replacement switch, Chrysler part number 3747092, or a similarly wired aftermarket replacement. This switch was a multiple model replacement, and contained a 18 gauge black wire in the connector which was used in C-bodies, but not the other applications. The black was was to be removed for A-body use. If this is the case encountered here, or similar, adjust the connections to match the 1970 wiring, including the quadrant illumination orange wiring.

Refer to the following image for the original instructions for the 3747092 switch:

Ignition switch instructions.jpg


Regarding the two small red wires from the key-in buzzer switch. If the buzzer and/or switch is not used, the wires can be left in place.

The key-in buzzer switch in steering column look like the following image:
Screenshot 2026-01-07 6.16.53 PM.png
 
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Oh I knew I meant to address something else. GET THAT RING OFF! You can ground or short yourself REAL quick if you're not careful. I had to cut a classmate's class ring off his finger in high school auto shop class about 1980. He grounded out on a car battery. It was NOT pretty.
Thanks for the concern. I have no battery in the car right now while wiring is being done.
 
on my 71 we had a black and two reds that were not being used. it was a replacement standard brand ign switch. the diagram is from when we rewired the car.

71DartIgnitionWiring.jpg
 
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