924Board.org

[mgatlag]

Ok so here's a new one.....

Driving around last night, I went to turn my lights on and then the cigarette lighter and clock and oil pressure gauge all went dead..

Turn the lights back off.... and they all come back on.

Any ideas?

Come on Smoothie and Roger, this is a hopefully a good challenge for you two!
_________________
Michael
'77 1/2 924 N/A- 5 speed Audi box
'04 Ford Taurus - gone!!
'92 Jeep Cherokee Laredo - gone!!

Porsche... better than tea with Miss McGill
(Slap Shot)

[RC]

[reilly525i]

gremlins. . . I saw a movie that told me all about them. they are to blame.
_________________
"There are no kings inside the gates of Eden"

80 n/a 924.
76 alfa romeo spider
e34 525i.
xj6 vanden plas
vintage Sunbeam 6 speed bicycle

[RC]

[reilly525i]

yep. . . thats one of them. . . dont leave any food in your car after midnite or your really screwed.
_________________
"There are no kings inside the gates of Eden"

80 n/a 924.
76 alfa romeo spider
e34 525i.
xj6 vanden plas
vintage Sunbeam 6 speed bicycle

[ideola]

Short in the headlight switch? Better get out that multi-meter and find out what's going on. I don't want to sound alarmist, but some of those circuits are not fused and carry high loads, and WILL melt wires and can be a fire hazard.
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

[mgatlag]

Thanks for the help so far. My new ignition switch should be in today so I guess I'll be playing electrician, just wish I knew more of how everything works. I can trace wires and look for the obvious screw ups but may have some questions about some things along the way. I'll let you know.
_________________
Michael
'77 1/2 924 N/A- 5 speed Audi box
'04 Ford Taurus - gone!!
'92 Jeep Cherokee Laredo - gone!!

Porsche... better than tea with Miss McGill
(Slap Shot)

[mgatlag]

I think Gismo must be sleeping because tonight on my way home from the fire station, everything worked fine. Don't know why. But I'm still gonna do some tracing tomorrow and see what I find. Gotta take care of the wipers coming on when they feel like it and the pulsating headlights and interior lights.
_________________
Michael
'77 1/2 924 N/A- 5 speed Audi box
'04 Ford Taurus - gone!!
'92 Jeep Cherokee Laredo - gone!!

Porsche... better than tea with Miss McGill
(Slap Shot)

[ideola]

The pulsing deal is either a voltage regulator on the way out, or poor grounding at the alternator. When's the last time you thoroughly went over all of your grounds?
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

[Joes924Racer]

[craigddavis83]

When in doubt bypass. I hate complicated electrical systems I simplify when I can. I remember my car doing the same kinda stuff before it went down. Gauges were clicking with the blinkers and all sorts of stuff so I will be in the same boat when I start my build.
_________________
1977 924 2.0L N/A "The Track Car" (soon!)
1995 Integra 1.8L "The Wife's Sleeper"
1968 Harley XLCH "The Family Heirloom"
2005 Honda CRF50 "The Pit Bike of Doom"

[mgatlag]

Well I checked the grounds and they all look good. Just cleaned and lubed them last summer. I did notice there was one that looked bad though. It is the on that goes from the altenator to the alt bracket on the block. I bet that is why its pulsating. Do I have to replace it with a braided type or can I just use a good thick gauge wire? I have plenty of 10 gauge in my garage I could use?
_________________
Michael
'77 1/2 924 N/A- 5 speed Audi box
'04 Ford Taurus - gone!!
'92 Jeep Cherokee Laredo - gone!!

Porsche... better than tea with Miss McGill
(Slap Shot)

[Smoothie]

No, it doesn't have to be braided.
I'm a member of OBA (over-builders anonymous), so like to over, rather than under-do things - so if using 10 gauge for a major ground I'd double it and run 2 in parallel.
I first replaced my alternators' bare braided ground with doubled 10 gauge - since then replaced that with either a 6 or 4 gauge (non-doubled).

Burnt/oxidized connector pins on the back of the fuse-relay panel can be a problem too (somewhere else to look if problems persist after checking the grounds).
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."


'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

[craigddavis83]

single 10 gauge should be plenty you shouldn't have to run 2 parallel.
_________________
1977 924 2.0L N/A "The Track Car" (soon!)
1995 Integra 1.8L "The Wife's Sleeper"
1968 Harley XLCH "The Family Heirloom"
2005 Honda CRF50 "The Pit Bike of Doom"

[mgatlag]

Well shit... I replaced the braided ground on the back of the altenator with 10 gauge wire and still have the pulsating lights issue. I also very recently replaced the harness that goes from the connection by the battery to the altenator and starter, so I know that's good. I also had the altenator tested last week and found it was good.

While it was running, I put my multimeter on the battery and it read 15.0. Which seems a little high but the battery is also brand new. When I turned headlights on (engine running) it read 14.5-14.7. Seemed a little more normal.

Gonna go back out now and lay on my back under the dash and look at the grounds again to make sure they're still good and clean. Hopefully I can also find the wire that's causing the clock, oil press, and cig to not work when lights are on....

Also..I do have added and extra ground that goes from engine to behind ballistor and another from the head and goes to ground for the battery neg. Can't think of any more to add????
_________________
Michael
'77 1/2 924 N/A- 5 speed Audi box
'04 Ford Taurus - gone!!
'92 Jeep Cherokee Laredo - gone!!

Porsche... better than tea with Miss McGill
(Slap Shot)