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1
Post By strictlypersonl
08-21-2015, 12:33 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Ball Ground,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: B&B Roadster. Ford 351W/427 & Holley TBI 950
Posts: 14
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Not Ranked
tips on tracing wiring problems ?
Any tips or low cost tools that would help me trace wiring problems ?
For example, my brake lights work, but not the regular rear lights which are the same bulb. Under the crowded dash is basically a rats nest of wires, so I'm hoping some folks have some tips, techniques, or low cost tools that may help me figure this out.
Thanks, George
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08-21-2015, 01:25 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dadeville,
AL
Cobra Make, Engine: Sold my EM.
Posts: 2,440
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Not Ranked
A long jumper cable with alligator clips at each end, and a multimeter can solve most problems. - To see if there is power at a point, run one end of the jumper cable to a good ground and use the multimeter to check for DC voltage between the point and the other end of the jumper cable.
- To see if there is a bad ground connection, run one end of the jumper cable to a good ground and connect the other end to the questionable connection. If the device starts to work, you know the old ground was bad.
- To see if two wire ends are connected (e.g., one in the trunk and another under the dash), connect one end of the jumper cable to one end and use the ohm resistance reading on the multimeter to check the resistance between the other end and the jumper cable. If the resistance is high or infinite, the two ends are not connected. If the resistance is very low, they are connected.
The most common problems with lights on fiberglass bodied cars is bad ground connections. I'd check that first.
__________________
Tommy
Cheetah tribute completed 2021 (TommysCars.Weebly.com)
Previously owned EM Cobra
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor
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08-21-2015, 01:37 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Dallas,
tx
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR track car, SL-C track car
Posts: 1,262
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Not Ranked
What he said.
If the item used to work, at least you know it was wired correctly to start with.
If it never worked, you may need to trace the wires and that can be more difficult.
I've found wires that were clipped and wrapped in the wire loom that were never connected. That kind of thing is a bit more challenging to fix.
Also, a wiring diagram is really helpful. Painless and Ron Francis wiring kits are pretty common and if you have one of those the diagrams are available.
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08-21-2015, 01:41 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Bend,
In
Cobra Make, Engine: B & B 289
Posts: 182
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Not Ranked
Wiring problems
Nearly all of the problems on my car stemmed from grounding problems. I even went so far as to remove all of the ground connections from the vehicle, clean them up, clean off the paint underneath, and re-attach using electrical joint compound. When I got the car, only the starter and ignition worked, well, kinda. Now everything works, no other repair needed. Amazing thing was that there were 15,000 miles on the car with it that way!!!!
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08-21-2015, 02:06 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Britain,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Size 10 Feet
Posts: 2,993
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Not Ranked
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08-21-2015, 02:11 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Britain,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Size 10 Feet
Posts: 2,993
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Not Ranked
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08-21-2015, 02:18 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #91 with 345 HP 302
Posts: 181
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Not Ranked
Another bad ground vote. I made some jumpers that went straight from the battery ground to the cockpit and solved my broken directional light problem in about a third of a beer...
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08-22-2015, 06:26 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Ball Ground,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: B&B Roadster. Ford 351W/427 & Holley TBI 950
Posts: 14
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Not Ranked
Thanks Gents, very helpful info.. George
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08-23-2015, 06:16 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF#0760
Posts: 3,393
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Not Ranked
If both your brake lights don't work, I would look for the activation switch that is related to the brake pedal. Could be a simple button switch located on or near the brake pedal that is activated when you depress the brake or an in line pressure switch with two wires. Of course you should test the bulbs first and also the ground to the bulb sockets.
__________________
Wiring Diagrams: SPF MKII, MKIII, GT40, CSX7000, CSX8000, Corvette Grand Sport, and Shelby Sebring, Bondurant & Cinema Tribute Cars.
Owner’s Manuals: SPF MKII, CSX7000, CSX8000, Sebring, Bondurant, & Cinema Tribute Cars.
Large, easy to read and trace schematics with part numbers, wire colors, wire gauge, fuses, and electrical upgrade information. Trouble-shooting and replacement part numbers for those roadside repair adventures.
SPFWiringDiagrams@Comcast.net
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08-23-2015, 06:49 AM
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Average Guy
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Rushville,
IN
Cobra Make, Engine: red Shell Valley, white stripes
Posts: 578
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Not Ranked
Go to your local parts store and buy a 12v test light for under $10. It looks like an icepick with a wire coming out of the handle. With the clip on the wire clipped onto a known ground, you can use the pointed end to test for the presence or absence of voltage to any point in a circuit. It will be a handy tool to have around if you pull a boat, too.
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When I said I wanted to be somebody, I probably should have been more specific...
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