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Post by camperstyle on Dec 11, 2009 21:19:50 GMT -5
Hey there, I've been lurking here for a bit. Thanks to all for all the good info, I've learned much about my new justy from this forum. HOWEVER, I have an issue that I can't seem to resolve from the previous posts, so here I go!
I was trying to install a new stereo tonight. I could not get it to work. I got power to the stereo, but no sound. ANYWAY...
After I gave up, I started it up to move it, and NOW it won't idle, and the dash light don't work! Everything else works, and it runs if I keep my foot on the gas, but it won't idle.
I checked the fuses (all good). It seems that I blew a fuse? But I can't find it.
It starts up and runs good as long as I don't let my foot off the gas. AND the dash lights won't come on.
ANY ideas fellas???
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 11, 2009 21:23:15 GMT -5
Whoops, forgot to mention.
1988 carbed with 4WD
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Post by RedRooJusty on Dec 11, 2009 22:11:37 GMT -5
Are you sure you haven't crossed the radio power with the illumination power (and or illumination ground!) behind the radio? Radio switched-power is Blue with red stripe, Radio memory is white with blue stripe, there should be no need to connect the red wires without an "ILL" wire on your radio. Use a test light to find out which illumination wire is positive, just cap the other red wire. I would go after this first. Here is the only schematic I can find for the radio wiring. Fuse#10 is on the "EFC Monitor" and the "Radio" so this would definitely do what you are talking about.. -hope this helps -oh and welcome **camperstyle** -RRJ
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 11, 2009 23:51:28 GMT -5
Cool! Thanks much! I'll check and reply in the morning.
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 12, 2009 13:22:01 GMT -5
Well, I can't figure it out. I removed the stereo and capped all the wires, so nothing is crossed there.
I think at some point, I crossed two wires that caused damage elsewhere. The result is no dash lights and no idle.
There are no blown fuses in the fusebox.
ALSO the clock light is now solid bright light and when I put on the headlights it dims down halfway (but still illegible).
I been contemplating taking my dash apart to start tracing wires, but figured I'd get some more advise beforehand.
ANY ideas???
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Post by onsk8 on Dec 12, 2009 15:23:14 GMT -5
wouldnt hurt to check the fuses with a fuse checker. Its gotten me before.
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 12, 2009 15:45:32 GMT -5
Good call! I found a sneeky little blown fuse.
NOW, the car idles good again. No problem there.
However, My dash lights still don't work. I'll keep fiddling with it.
BTW, I put the new strereo in and it's fully functional now. WOOHOO!
Thanks guys, your simple advise is saving folks time and headaches. ;D
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Post by Raw Justyce! on Dec 12, 2009 16:42:35 GMT -5
Does your car have a dimmer for the dash lights? That switch was broken in mine, and I had no dash lights. Pulled one from a junkyard car, replaced it, and they work great.
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 12, 2009 20:12:23 GMT -5
I think it's not the dimmer, because it worked before the stereo install. Unless I somehow blew it out when I crossed wires. At least it idles now, and my clock is back working again. I can get by with no dash lights for a while. I'll get it worked out eventually.
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 13, 2009 14:30:17 GMT -5
I've double checked all my fuses. Still no dash lights. Are there other fuses elsewhere that I should check. Or maybe a relay or something that could have got damaged?
I pulled the dimmer dial and the 2 red wires going into the back f it are hot while the lights are on. Is there someway to by-pass the dimmer so that I can eliminate it as the culprit?
ALSO, the ill. stereo wires are hot while the lights are on too. So, I've got power there.
Any ideas??
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Post by badshah on Dec 13, 2009 22:55:44 GMT -5
Short the two wires of the dimmer together, It is a rheostat as far as I know. Maybe you provided the main power to the stereo (initially) from the wire that goes to the dash lights and the higher current blew the dimmer. Just my 2 cents
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 14, 2009 20:10:50 GMT -5
badshah- I shorted the wires, no luck.
NEW CLUES...
I pulled the defrost switch to check it out. It has a red and a black wire attached to the bulb inside of it.
My light tester lights up when I touch it to the red wire, and it also lights up when I touch it to the black wire. (I assume that it should only light up when I test the red wire NOT the ground wire).
ALSO, when I disconnect the black wire and run a jumper ground to the defroster bulb, IT LIGHTS UP!!
These are my assumptions: The ground wire running to the bulb is acting like the red wire. The black and red wires are touching somewhere, or some component has failed causing a bridge between the two.
Can someone please confirm/refute my reasoning?? AND what component may have failed as a result of crossing the stereo wires?
BTW, The stereo is removed now with all wires capped off.
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Post by RedRooJusty on Dec 14, 2009 20:45:16 GMT -5
Good call! I found a sneeky little blown fuse. ...... How big was that fuse, say 25 or 30 amp? It sounds like you may have a gremlin hunt. Guessing here, but you have shorted the illumination wiring. Sorry there is no easy answer to this. You are going to have to follow the circuit. I say go back to where you read power behind the dimmer. Turn off your lights. If power is still there (on one of the red wires-then you have narrowed down to which is shorted), then pull one fuse at a time till you find where the test lamp shuts off. This is the circuit you want to go after. That with which color illumination wire is shorted will get you much closer. I believe what you will find is a part of the dash harness has "melted" together. Hopefully behind the radio harness, as that is easy to get to. -let us know what you find. -RRJ
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 14, 2009 22:53:11 GMT -5
It was a 15 amp fuse...
SO, because the test lamp lights up on both the red wire and black wire we are assuming that these wires are touching somewhere right?
AND it's most likely in a wrapped part of the wiring harness somewhere right?
FYI both red wires to the dimmer go dead when I turn off the headlights. ALSO, they go dead when I pull the #2 fuse.
Don't you think my fuse would blow again if there was a short?
I suppose I need to start pulling my dash apart.
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Post by badshah on Dec 14, 2009 23:13:12 GMT -5
You basically have an unconnected ground for the dash lights circuit, that is why your test light lights up in both cases The dimmer switch that you mentioned has a bulb inside, which lights up with the dash, momentarily touch a ground to the black wire in the bulb, see if it lights up, with other lights or you blow something else
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 14, 2009 23:51:00 GMT -5
badshash- If I touch a jumper ground wire to the existing ground wire which is connected to the bulb nothing happens. If I disconnect the existing ground wire and run the jumper directly to the bulb, it lights up.
Thanks for the input, every bit helps.
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Post by badshah on Dec 15, 2009 0:27:19 GMT -5
sorry my bad! I meant connect to the negative at the defrost switch bulb, wth the lights on, either you should get a spark or the bulb should light up (other switches should light up too). If it still does not then join the two wires of the dimmer switch and try again. Spark would mean a short and a broken ground, lights up would mean broken ground. Please connect to a clean paint free ground. Also try and jiggle all the fuses. Is your RPM meter working? Hope it helps. Attachments:
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 15, 2009 19:39:12 GMT -5
badshah- Yes, RPM meter is working.
When I touch the test light to the black wire on the defroster bulb the test light lights up, NOT the defroster bulb.
The same happens when I touch the tester to the red wire. Crossing the wires at the dimmer has no effect.
Does this mean I have a short? and if so, why doesnt it blow my fuse again?
BTW, there are 5 wires going to the dimmer. Only the 2 going to the dimmer bulb light up the test lamp (they are both red).
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Post by camperstyle on Dec 15, 2009 19:43:17 GMT -5
back of dimmer. Attachments:
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Post by RedRooJusty on Dec 15, 2009 21:58:32 GMT -5
**camperstyle**, first thank you for checking on the fuse. **badshah** is dead on in his assertion that a ground is missing in the lighting circuit. The wiring convention of the vehicle appears to associate the color black with all grounds. edit If faced with two wires on the back of a bulb socket and one is black with a color stripe vs. color with black stripe, I would put the guess to the black with color being the ground wire for that circuit. By your picture of the back of the dimmer, I would not try grounding either of those red wires. I would take it to a bulb on the illumination circuit, guess for the ground (---black---), and at worst you are out another fuse. -screw that I will go find witch color wire should be ground on the back of an illumination bulb socket, and let you know shortly. By looking briefly into my dash (climate controls and radio) I found that the illumination bulbs are not grounded individually, rather together, meaning they could just have one ground period. I will look under my dash some more tonight and let you know what I find.
-RRJ
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