[rogersrebuild]

The gremlins are starting to show up. This weekend I was cleaning up a birds nest of wires from under my sweep dash on my 72 Malibu. One wire at a time. After I thought I was complete and hooked the battery up all I have working are the night lights. No indicator at all, no blinker,bright,hot, oil,gen. I do have headlights, tail, brake, tail and signals. What I didnt have but now do is backup lights that come on and a buzzer that comes on when the key is in the "on" position. Its like the dash is not connected. My wiring wasnt really that bad, old security system was the biggest mess, I removed that, cleaned up my tach wires that were hanging down. Its not like I did major surgery. Anyhow my headlight light switch was loose, I read that there is a ground connected to it, Tightened it up but no change. Do you guys know where the other grounding spots are. I read there were two more but dam if I can find them. Is there a wire from the indicator cluster to ground that I am missing. Also, is there a seperate relay for hazard and turn signals?? I have turn signals, no indicators but no hazzard flashers when I push them in. There is a place in the fuse box for a flasher relay but wasnt sure if it was being used since there is a relay already for the turn signals. **update** I do have "gen" when I try to crank it, no more buzzer when the key is on, and its not coming on at all now.

 

[rogersrebuild]

ok, forgot to mention this, i was checking the fuses again, I had blown the little fuse at the bottom this weekend, replaced that, was metering for power and cont last night and now I have no power to the fuse, all the other legs have power, some the key needs to be on but that the way its supposed to be.

 

[rogersrebuild]

Can I run an extra power wire to the leg of that little fuse to test or will that make matters worse?

 

[lrc]

Roger,

I'm chasing wiring that was never completed on an American Auto wire install by a previous vendor.

Your best bet is to continue to backtrack with your voltmeter or test light until you find the 12v you're looking for. How about the back of the fuse block for that fuse location, engine bay on the firewall? Then continue on to the battery or starter.

 

[Dean]

Don't know which lights are "night lights" but make sure you have a good ground to the cluster.
Also, the little short dash light fuse is powered from the taillight fuse.
Make sure that the fuse holder clips are making good contact with both ends of the fuses.

 

[rogersrebuild]

Thanks IRC amd Dean for your suggestions. I going to pull the fuse panel and check the wires inside. I have power to the tail lights through the fuse but none at the fuse for the inst. lt. The fuse checks good. I will check the clips for good connection. Good luck IRC on running your wires, thats gonna be a job. Oh and Dean on the night lights, I was meaning the dash and gauge illumination when the headlights are on.

 

[rogersrebuild]

OK I had some time this evening to get out there and prod around again. I found the three ground wires for the dash finally. One on the headlight switch, one down on the lower part of the dash bracket towards the firewall and then the third one....mounted to the upper portion of the same bracket. My thinking is this is the one that is supposed to be mounted to the cluster. Can somebody tell where on the cluster? I have scanned through the other info here, and just cant seem to figure out where this is. I havent pulled the dash frame yet but I will if I have to.

 

[rogersrebuild]

Final update. I took the day off from work and spent it taking out the dash and replacing the frame that was all hacked and cracked up. Marking all my wires and vacuum hoses. Switching over all the stuff to the new frame and reinstalling. Hooked up the battery and Voila ! Dash works again ! Go figure !
Thank you guys for all your help !