Electrical issues

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L

LRIwater

Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Threads
63
Messages
296
Location
San Diego, CA
I have some electrical issues that are keeping me from my maiden vogage (around the block...)

First,

I have some gauge issues, and I have searched the forum. I have a '79 Pig, and the Temp, Fuel, and Amp gauges used to work, and they stopped all at the same time. The Oil Pressure gauge still works, and the heater blower works independently of the gauges which should be on the same fuse.

Does anyone know how the gauges are grounded? I know to check the ground (White w/ black stripe from the electrical diagram), and it looks like there are 3 or 4 of them coming out of the gauge cluster connector to a wiring bundle. Do you know where they go from there? Maybe these are ground wires coming in from the sensors? Does the cluster itself ground to the dash or? I've definitely got myself in a cluster, allright! If I can avoid tearing into that wiring bundle, that would be great. I don't want to take it out on the first trip without a temp gauge.

Second,

I think I have the popular fuel solenoid problem, but all of the posts say to connect the one yellow wire to +12V. I have TWO wires coming out, black and white with a black stripe. I figure the white one is ground. I tried attaching +12V to the black one and get no clicking. Also, I put the voltmeter on the wires coming from the dash and get no voltage w/ the key in the "on" position. Any suggestions (should I replace the solenoid then rewire to switched power??

3'rd,
What is this electrical component in the pic? It is attached to the left fender well, and the wires that go to it are cut.


I've been pushing to get my project out on the road before it gets too cold (chopped top), but I think it's too late!
Many Thanks in advance,
Chuck
IMGP0771.webp
 
You have electrical issues? I have electrical issues. But I'd rather work on yours.

First. A '79!?! wow. I don't think I've ever seen a '79 Pig. But yes, the same fuse that powers the heater blower powers the gauges, so It's probably not a short if the fan runs. So, yeah it's probably a common ground and no, I don't know exactly where that ground is. My suggestion; take it apart and put it back together and see if it works.

Second. You have two wires coming out of the fuel cutoff solonoid? I guess I've never seen a '79 carburetor then, I thought they only had one wire. Mines black.


Lastly. That rectangular gizmo on your left fenderwell...do you have a carb cooling fan (that works)? Rear window go up and down? Then I'm out of guesses.

edit: we need more and bigger pics!
 
Last edited:
The gizmo on the fender wall could be an auto reset relay for an electronic trailer brake set up. It looks an awful lot like the ones I have installed on a few of my wagons. Other than that...an old horn relay ???? Definitely a relay of some sort....
 
Pighead said:
You have electrical issues? I have electrical issues. But I'd rather work on yours.

First. A '79!?! wow. I don't think I've ever seen a '79 Pig. But yes, the same fuse that powers the heater blower powers the gauges, so It's probably not a short if the fan runs. So, yeah it's probably a common ground and no, I don't know exactly where that ground is. My suggestion; take it apart and put it back together and see if it works.

Second. You have two wires coming out of the fuel cutoff solonoid? I guess I've never seen a '79 carburetor then, I thought they only had one wire. Mines black.


Lastly. That rectangular gizmo on your left fenderwell...do you have a carb cooling fan (that works)? Rear window go up and down? Then I'm out of guesses.

edit: we need more and bigger pics!
Click to expand...

I test drove the Piggup for the first time tonight. Forget the electrical problems, just drive it, I told myself. It's 70 degrees and how long will that last? It drove fairly well, although the idle is set high, probably to compensate for the idle solenoid issue.

Pighead,
Here are some pics. My camera is terrible in low light. However, it gives you an idea of the rig. Also the engine shot shows the 2 wires on the green connector for the solenoid. I could not get a non-blurried shot of the actual solenoid at the back of the carb. The carb cooling fan does not work. So, that gizmo might be it.
Pig _ Carb001.webp
Pig _ Carb004.webp
Pig _ Carb009.webp
 
The wiring schematic that I'm looking at sez that the black/white wire is the ground (usually is) the other wire goes to the emissions computer. You still have that?
 
Yeah, it still has the emissions computer. It seems to run better w/ the carb wires unplugged!
 
2nd Pighead's comments. The carb probably has 2 leads, 1 for the fuel cut and 1 for the temp sensor that the emissions "computer" needs - at least that's what my 78's have.

I can't tell you how the gauge cluster is grounded - never had to dig that far under the dash (all my gauges work) but I'm willing to check if you want me to.

The third pic - GOK (God only knows) what that is but it certainly isn't part of the OEM wiring harness. Where does the white wire lead to? Could the PO have used it as a terminal block for the carb cooling fan temp sensor that located near the exhaust manifold?

Harry
 
I got the gauges working last night. I stepped through all of the connections and cleaned them one by one, and got all of the gages working. The carb fan seems to be hooked up. So, I'm still not sure what that other doohicky attached to the fender is, and the truck seems to run great w/o the carb wires hooked up. So, I think I am okay for now. I will continue to check out the carb wire dealio.

Thanks for all of your help.
 
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