FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Finally have the wiring sorted out (almost) everything works except the dash / dash indicator lights. The red ones work and the resistor wire is broken so I moved the corresponding grey wire to the other side of the light switch to the middle one of the three that are there so it is on when the light switch is pulled.
Any hints.
Cheers

With both the dash lights & the indicators not working, it sounds like an earthing problem to me - but that seems a remote possibility.  Did you do the testing with the dash screwed back in place?  If you tested with the dash panel out, then earthing could be the answer.  If you had it in place and screwed firmly, then I'd try with a "star" lock washer on each long screw.  These will "bite" into the frame to help the earthing.

Martin

Martin,
       I think you might be right, later on after I had given up I placed the cluster panel back and the speedo lit up. the other gauges didn't and neither did the indicators. Sometimes the fuel gauge would read full when lights on and the red light at top of speedo would illuminate even if everything was turned off. If it is an earthing problem, would would be the cause of the rest?

Earthing problems cause all sorts of weird (and expensive) things to happen. Double check all your earths and when testing stuff like gauges and dash lights, hook up a battery charger instead of a battery. This way there is less chance of any permanent damage if things are a little bit wrong.

Cheers stinky The indicators in the dash have a black wire running to them which I assume is the earth, Doesn't explain why they don't work??

If memory serves, the indicators earth to the dash housing as do the other lights. I'm not sure how the housing earths though.

The black wires should go to the flasher unit pole marked "P".  They are not the earth - the whole car has -ve earth.  The dash housing simply earths to the body.

Nes, your car was an FE, right?  Then you should be using this wiring diagram ($2).

Late '59 (separate indicators) FCs should use this one ($2).

cheers
RET

yeah ret thats right (I'm assuming) It came with a couple of Id tags but the wire loom I have is from another car and its a 58 special. And that is the diagram I am using (first one). I just assumed they were earth as they were black but they are connected to the pole.

Not sure it is the same thing but I had some (very) wierd experiences with my indicators some time back and it turned out that it was caused by the wire that (didnt correctly) terminate at the junction box where all lighting wires etc all connect at the front of the engine bay.  

The bit that confused me is that it was the opposite side to the side that I was having the issue with (but my car has been messed with A LOT, so I guess it shouldnt be too surprising :).

Cheers
Mike

Actually, that's sort-of a design feature (along the lines of the saying "any sufficiently advanced bug is indistinguishable from a feature", that people in IT have probably heard).

Anyhoo, the circuit to the dash tell-tale indicators has the lowest resistance in the whole setup.  The benefit of this is that if there is a problem in the indicator (and by extension brake warning light in FEs/most FCs), you'll get both tell-tale indicators strobing, which tells you that one of the external globes has failed. Nifty, eh?

cheers
RET

I ran an earth wire and tapped it on each bulb to see if it had blown... replaced two. Now they all work when the light switch is pulled. the only other problem is now, when I indicate Left the right bulb lights up and visa versa. I checked the diagram and the light and dark blue wires for each of the indicators are the correct way... thoughts?
Wondering also, whats the red light on the speedo for?

Red light on the speedo is the high-beam indicator.

Is it only the dash indicators that are reversed, or are the exterior indicators back to front as well?  If the former, are you sure the wires are the right way around?  To confirm, Dark Blue for left, Light Blue for right.

cheers
RET

yeah mate I confirmed they are the right way. When I indicate the front and rear lights are corect too. the red light on the speedo does not turn on/off if the foot switch pressed..

My guess is you have a dash light in the high beam spot. I bet 1 of your dash lights only comes on when your high beam is pressed. Check the wiring sockets at the base of steering colomn for the blinker switch. You might have the tell tale wires crossed over here.
Colin

Colt,
    my high beam is the green wire and is at the top of the speedo. when the switch is pressed, it does not turn off

Do your headlights turn off high beam? If they do, I would check to see where your tell tale wiring comes from. Have you got a wiring diagram?

colt,
     I checked, my head lights do not go on to HIGH beam, maybe its the switch itself?? I have a workshop manual and a wire diagram that I blew up to A3 and it seams the tell tales are correct. I think it need a couple of beers to figure out. as bad as that seams, its normally when I have moments of clarity. God bless Corona

hey nes139,  

what martian said about the earths is true, lack of a really good earth can cause all sort of problems.   ::) ::)  double check it. :o 8) 8) ??? ???