Winking, Blinking Electrics

Before I start down the diagnose / fix trail, maybe someone can short(en) out my efforts -

Problem: started while driving home from N.O. yesterday - suddenly the tach, fuel gauge, temp gauge, turn signals, and wipers would quit. Sometimes they'd blink back on when a the car rolled over a small bump, sometimes not. Seemed to occur when using the turn signals, but not always - sometimes they'd blink off with no driver input, sometimes the turn signal wouldn't blink them off.

My first thought was that the fuse was loose or corroded - but it wasn't. Or, that one of the connectors was loose at the fuse box - nope.

Got on home and will start working on it later today.

Any thoughts?

New wiring harness, so a loose connector is most likely I think.

Jim D

I think the only thing common to all those issues is the voltage stabilizer. Maybe it lost it's ground.

Actually I don't think the voltage stabilizer would effect the blinkers and wipers. Interesting problem!

Jim, if my memory is correct everything you mention is fed from your ign switch through the white wire. I'd start there, wiggling connections trying to duplicate the power loss. Think the white wire feeds the second from bottom fuse so that may be a good place to hook up a test light. Just work downstream looking for a loose connector.

Someone else recently had a similar problem. It was a faulty connection at the starter.
Make an enlarged copy of the wiring diagram and use it to keep track of your progress as you use an ohm meter to check connections for high resistance.

Gerry, without looking at the diagram hanging on my garage wall (compliments of Joe Reed), I think you're right. If that fuse blows, the results are the same (as best I recall). And, the potential of being related to use of turn signals hints at a site close to the ignition switch (big bundle of wiring under the cowl).

I'm not going to touch it today - too busy catching up from N.O.

Jim D

Check the ignition relay located just forward of the fuse box. Check all of the wires and the legs of the relay. Mine broke off at one of the relay legs and I had similar electrical problems that you describe.