74 manta luxus electrical issues?

[74bluemantaluxus]

hi everyone. i just bought a 74 manta luxus. i cant get the dash lights , radio, high beams, buzzers working? someone please help me out,.. fuses were checked they are good. thanks. dan

[opelwasp]

Clean the fuse holders too. Corrosion can cause them to have bad contact. Use a Dremel too and some polishing compound.

[74bluemantaluxus]

thanks but could it be anything else?? my mechanic said it could be the headlight switch? i have no idea.. but i fell in love with this car and i'd like to get some help with the dash stuff working.. the am radio the clock the gauge lights etc. anyone have the same problem? thanks! dan

[David McCollam]

You'll probably need to take the instrument cluster out of the dash to check everything. Here we go....

The dash lights probably don't work because the dimmer switch on the dash is corroded. This is a common problem on the 74/75 cars. The dimmer rheostat is a wound coil of wire with a contact wiper. The contact corrodes and there is no current to the dash lights. You can unplug the dimmer and just connect the instrument light wires around the switch. You can clean the switch with contact cleaner and a probe. Test it with an ohmmeter for continuity.

The buzzers may have been removed from the sockets under the dash or unplugged at the doors. I've also seen the entire lamp housing removed from the dash face for the seat belt warning indicator. If the headlights don't come on, the relay or switch could be bad. That relay is down my the seatbelt warning buzzer also. Check to make sure the buzzer and relay are still there. It's in the cluster of sockets just under the dash above the fuse panel.

If the high beams don't come on, it could be the power connection on the switch at the column. It could also be the switch. Check the contacts at the connection of the wiring harness at the fuse panel. Follow the harness out of the turn signal switch on the column to the connection on the side of the fuse panel. If you think it's bad or too corroded to clean, send me an e-mail. I have some new switches.

If the clock, I'm guessing it's the big one, doesn't work, it's either a bad fuse, disconnected power wire, ground wire or the clock is dead. Check the fuse, the red power lead on the back and the ground. If it doesn't work are all those check out, e-mail me. I have a big clock, new I think. The radio is either the fuse or the ground. Check the lead to the radio. There should be and in-line fuse holder with a 1-2 amp fuse to the radio. It is usually conected to a vacant opening on the side of the fuse panel where the plugs from the steering column come in on the side. Check there. I've never seen one of those radios that wouldn't work.

Good luck.

Dave

[Rionart]

Get onto Ebay and buy the haynes manual...you're going to need it....