The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-12-2015, 05:57 PM   #1
Riley012
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Palisade mn.
Posts: 75
Electric problem

I have the headlites and tail lites, signals all working. When I turn the headlights on, all the gauges and wiper motor stop working. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks 1982 k20 Chevy truck

Last edited by Riley012; 12-12-2015 at 06:02 PM. Reason: Forgot the year and make
Riley012 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2015, 12:41 AM   #2
Cheyenne75
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ceres, Ca
Posts: 14
Re: Electric problem

Light switch might be bad
Cheyenne75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2015, 10:14 PM   #3
Riley012
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Palisade mn.
Posts: 75
Re: Electric problem

It's a new switch.
Riley012 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2015, 11:35 PM   #4
rich weyand
Registered User
 
rich weyand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bloomington Indiana
Posts: 1,041
Re: Electric problem

Ground strap between the engine and the cab missing?
__________________
Rich Weyand

1978 K10 RCSB DD.
rich weyand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2015, 12:00 AM   #5
TheWhiteElephant
God is good!
 
TheWhiteElephant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 689
Re: Electric problem

Yep, sounds like a faulty/lack of ground issue. Make sure you ground the dash to the body and the body to the engine and frame. I also ground my tail lamps to the body and run a ground wire from that bolt to the frame, using star washers.
__________________
Mando

"It takes a smart man to know when he's stupid." -- Barney Rubble

My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430367
TheWhiteElephant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2015, 11:16 PM   #6
Riley012
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Palisade mn.
Posts: 75
Re: Electric problem

I have the cab grounded to the engine and the box to the frame,I do not have the cab grounded to the frame, I forgot about that one, do you think that could be my problem. Thanks
Riley012 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2015, 11:25 PM   #7
Riley012
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Palisade mn.
Posts: 75
Re: Electric problem

White elephant can you tell me if the light switch has its own ground wire coming out of the plug, or is it grounded by the large nut that holds it into the dash. I painted the dash and if it is the nut then it mite not be getting a good contact. Thanks
Riley012 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 04:31 AM   #8
hatzie
Moderator
 
hatzie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,964
Re: Electric problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Riley012 View Post
White elephant can you tell me if the light switch has its own ground wire coming out of the plug, or is it grounded by the large nut that holds it into the dash. I painted the dash and if it is the nut then it mite not be getting a good contact. Thanks
The large nut is the switch ground.

You are not getting a good dash ground to the ground buss bar above the e-brake pedal.
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD
1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD
1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD
1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD
1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD
1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD
2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500
2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263
2009 Impala SS LS4 V8


RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions.
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.
hatzie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 08:45 AM   #9
enaberif
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
Re: Electric problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Riley012 View Post
I have the cab grounded to the engine and the box to the frame,I do not have the cab grounded to the frame, I forgot about that one, do you think that could be my problem. Thanks
Battery to engine
Engine to body

Those are the only two I have.
enaberif is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 10:58 AM   #10
Riley012
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Palisade mn.
Posts: 75
Re: Electric problem

Hatzie I have not seen a ground bus bar above the ebrake, I have not reinstalled the ebrake pedal yet. Thanks for the info on the light switch nut.
Riley012 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 11:09 AM   #11
gmachinz
Account Suspended
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Des Moines, IA.
Posts: 4,143
Re: Electric problem

The ground buss bar is actually located on the body directly behind the lower left hand AC vent about a foot inside.
gmachinz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 12:08 PM   #12
rich weyand
Registered User
 
rich weyand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bloomington Indiana
Posts: 1,041
Re: Electric problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by enaberif View Post
Battery to engine
Engine to body

Those are the only two I have.
Also need battery to frame. This is usually a second smaller wire on the (-) battery cable.
__________________
Rich Weyand

1978 K10 RCSB DD.
rich weyand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 06:44 PM   #13
TheWhiteElephant
God is good!
 
TheWhiteElephant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 689
Re: Electric problem

As has been said, there should be a bolt right behind the far left A/C vent. You can also drill a small hole anywhere on sheetmetal. Remember--you can never have too many grounds. If you've checked all bulbs, fuses, the easy stuff, and all appears okay, it SHOULD be a grounding issue.
__________________
Mando

"It takes a smart man to know when he's stupid." -- Barney Rubble

My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430367
TheWhiteElephant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 06:47 PM   #14
TheWhiteElephant
God is good!
 
TheWhiteElephant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 689
Re: Electric problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by enaberif View Post
Battery to engine
Engine to body

Those are the only two I have.
You should really have an engine to frame and body to frame as well. Rear tail lamps on '73 and above ground to bolt on bedside, but a ground from bedside to frame is what fixed my problems.
__________________
Mando

"It takes a smart man to know when he's stupid." -- Barney Rubble

My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430367
TheWhiteElephant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2015, 08:45 PM   #15
enaberif
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
Re: Electric problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant View Post
You should really have an engine to frame and body to frame as well. Rear tail lamps on '73 and above ground to bolt on bedside, but a ground from bedside to frame is what fixed my problems.
I was talking strictly engine bay. Even factory there wasn't a engine to frame ground.
enaberif is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com