Worried for a little bit - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**swervin ervin** · 01-12-2003, 05:05 PM

Well, I put my battery on charge last night. I ran it down while working on the inside of my truck. Like a dork, I left a door open for a couple nights. Anyway, I go out this morning to see if it's charged yet, It was, so I unhook everything. Go over and turn on the headlights, and nothing. Remember now, I can't start it because the distributor is at MSD. I flip the dimmer to high beams, and they work. Back to dim, no headlights. Everything else works.

Since I had the dash tore apart with the instrument cluster out and dash pad off, I thought I've got a wire off somewhere or something. So I take everything back apart to check it all. Can't see anything wrong. First thing that come to mind is the dimmer switch. Since it's in the column and I didn't feel like tearing it apart to take it out, I went to Advance Auto parts and bought a new light switch. Mine has never been changed and wouldn't hurt to change it even if it didn't fix it. Well, it didn't fix it. Damn.

Just getting ready to take the column apart, I looked once more at all the wiring and related plugs. I noticed the plug at the base of the column where the column wiring plugs up was not clipped all the way in. It has the two tangs and one wasn't clipped. I push it in until it clips, and guess what? It worked. Hooray.

I bad didn't want to get into changing the dimmer switch.

These trucks sure can tear your nerves up sometimes. But damn, ain't it fun when you get it fixed?

79BIG10 · 01-12-2003, 06:17 PM

Sounds like me and my starter, fuel valve and most everything else electrical. Me and electricity are not best of friends

Glad to hear you got it fixed.

**swervin ervin** · 01-12-2003, 06:32 PM

You are right Brandon. I absolutely hate messing with wiring/electrical stuff. Just about every time I do, it ends up being a headache.

Prerunner1982 · 01-12-2003, 09:01 PM

im there with ya'll... this draw on my batt is driving up the wall.....

Bowed · 01-13-2003, 01:35 AM

Quote " But damn, ain't it fun when you get it fixed?

Just like birth pains , isn't it .

SCOTI · 01-13-2003, 02:58 AM

swervin, amen on those electrical gremlins being a pain in the ass. I've been re-wiring a 66 mustang for a co-worker & got the new harness installed under the dash & started hooking up the start/ign system. I'm feeling confident that everything's right & decide to try & start it. Power to the switch in the 'ON' position but it wouldn't turn over (no power in the 'START' position). I dbl. check my connections & everything looks good. I'm thinking, maybe it's the nuetral safety, so I ask the guy if he had any probs (other than the ign switch catching on fire & burning up the surrounding wiring) when the vehicle last ran. He says no, so I figure it's something I wired. Well, after a week of trying to figure it out, I was about to give up & take it to a local shop. I was just sitting in the car & thought 'what the hell' & put it in nuetral. I turned the key & the engine spun/tried to fire. Dohhh . . . I should have trusted my judgement before spending the week looking. Now I have to just figure out why the dash lights won't work. Hhmmm, surely a ground, but which one??????????? Oh, I fixed the nuetral safety so it starts in park now too.

01-12-2003, 05:05 PM	#1
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Worried for a little bit Well, I put my battery on charge last night. I ran it down while working on the inside of my truck. Like a dork, I left a door open for a couple nights. Anyway, I go out this morning to see if it's charged yet, It was, so I unhook everything. Go over and turn on the headlights, and nothing. Remember now, I can't start it because the distributor is at MSD. I flip the dimmer to high beams, and they work. Back to dim, no headlights. Everything else works. Since I had the dash tore apart with the instrument cluster out and dash pad off, I thought I've got a wire off somewhere or something. So I take everything back apart to check it all. Can't see anything wrong. First thing that come to mind is the dimmer switch. Since it's in the column and I didn't feel like tearing it apart to take it out, I went to Advance Auto parts and bought a new light switch. Mine has never been changed and wouldn't hurt to change it even if it didn't fix it. Well, it didn't fix it. Damn. Just getting ready to take the column apart, I looked once more at all the wiring and related plugs. I noticed the plug at the base of the column where the column wiring plugs up was not clipped all the way in. It has the two tangs and one wasn't clipped. I push it in until it clips, and guess what? It worked. Hooray. I bad didn't want to get into changing the dimmer switch. These trucks sure can tear your nerves up sometimes. But damn, ain't it fun when you get it fixed? __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

01-12-2003, 06:17 PM	#2
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	Sounds like me and my starter, fuel valve and most everything else electrical. Me and electricity are not best of friends Glad to hear you got it fixed. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

01-12-2003, 09:01 PM	#4
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	im there with ya'll... this draw on my batt is driving up the wall..... __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

01-13-2003, 02:58 AM	#6
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,071	swervin, amen on those electrical gremlins being a pain in the ass. I've been re-wiring a 66 mustang for a co-worker & got the new harness installed under the dash & started hooking up the start/ign system. I'm feeling confident that everything's right & decide to try & start it. Power to the switch in the 'ON' position but it wouldn't turn over (no power in the 'START' position). I dbl. check my connections & everything looks good. I'm thinking, maybe it's the nuetral safety, so I ask the guy if he had any probs (other than the ign switch catching on fire & burning up the surrounding wiring) when the vehicle last ran. He says no, so I figure it's something I wired. Well, after a week of trying to figure it out, I was about to give up & take it to a local shop. I was just sitting in the car & thought 'what the hell' & put it in nuetral. I turned the key & the engine spun/tried to fire. Dohhh . . . I should have trusted my judgement before spending the week looking. Now I have to just figure out why the dash lights won't work. Hhmmm, surely a ground, but which one??????????? Oh, I fixed the nuetral safety so it starts in park now too. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

01-12-2003, 06:32 PM	#3
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	You are right Brandon. I absolutely hate messing with wiring/electrical stuff. Just about every time I do, it ends up being a headache.

01-13-2003, 01:35 AM	#5
Bowed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: where it's hot Posts: 1,059	Quote " But damn, ain't it fun when you get it fixed? Just like birth pains , isn't it .



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