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New Instrument Panel Woes

2518 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  oklaopel, 
Marc
Update...New Instrument Panel Woes

I replaced my instrument panel this weekend so that I can use a stock AM radio as my old panel was cut up by the previous owner for an after market one.

I was being very careful (so I thought) to make sure that all the connections on the back of the guages, terminals & grounds were in the same place, but when I put everything back together, the flashers & panel lights aren't working.

I'm using JJ Wheatley's electrical drawing to chase down these ghosts. Everything seems to be in the right place, the car still starts & the rest of the instruments are working, but something is obviously wrong.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Marc
:confused:
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BQS4
Inst. panel

Marc;
There are several grounds on the dash panel that can be checked, there's also the possibility that the connects are corroded, or that the bulbs are burnt out as well as the relay. These are 30+ years old! :)
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Marc
Thanks Gene,

My initial guess was the grounds as well. I don't think it's the bulbs as everything worked before and I really hope its not the relay (because I don't know what a relay is). But you bring up a great point on the corrosion.

In changing the panel, I used my old wiring harness, but kept some of the connectors in place from the new panel. I think I'll switch these out & while I'm at it get out the dremel to clean up the terminals & ends.

Thanks,
Marc
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opeldean
batttery terminal protectant(btp)

1- after cleaning the grounds(brown wires) to new metal, "spray some battery terminal protectant" in a small cup, then get a small brush and coat the contacting surfaces, it is a red grease type of product that promotes and maintains good current flow, the VW website said its good to use,much better than dieelectric grease, i did , including bulb sockets, all my contacts this way. I think almost all the grounds are to the speedometer, then the speedometer is grounded to the column via a "thicker brown wire".

2- look under the steering column and see if you see a "thicker brown wire" that conects to the column, clean this,coat this with BTP ,and make sure its not hanging loose.it is a key, major ground wire for the whole panel.
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Marc
The steering column.... I forgot about that one... I had to drop the steering column to get the panel out & I didn't put it back incase I had to make more changes. I'll put everything back together & let you know how it works out.
Thanks for a great tip.
Wish me luck!
Marc
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opeldean
electrical conductivity

I believe this may be the best at your terminals.

I am using this

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Marc
New Instrument Panel Woes... Update

OK... so I spent several hours cleaning every terminal, lug, connector & coated all with BTP per OpelDean & this is what I'm left with.

All my Panel Lights are working perfectly... even changed the bulbs. The Panel Dimmer works

The Clock Works

The Hazards work

The Red Brake Light switch works (and the light on the panel)

The Headlights work. (and the light on the panel)

Even the damn seat belt buzzer works...

The parking lights work when the car is off & the directional stalk is turned up or down (left & right)

BUT the when I turn the car on, the directionals do not work and the lights left & right turn signal does not light up on the instrument panel. ( even changed the bulbs & tried taking the B/Y Terminal C wire to ground on the speedo body.

Can it still be the ground? If so, my guess is to recheck the wiring through the:
1) directional signal lights on the panel.
2) wiring through the Hazard/Brake Failure switch
3) wiring through the flasher
4) flasher prongs

Should I check the wires for continuity?

Does anybody have any other suggestions? The directionals worked before I made this change, why not now? Do I need a new flasher?

This is a royal pain.
Thanks.
Marc
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J
gauge panel

I know that the wiring harnesses are different between some of the years for the GT. Did you use a gauge panel from a different year? I know that the plugins are the same and it all fits but I wonder if it makes a difference electrical wise. I once put a whole dash and panel from a 69 into a 70 and it worked ok between those years. I have a dash and panel from a 69 that I'll be putting into a 72 and have been wondering about the difference between them and if it will be a problem.
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Marc
Jim Branham said:
I know that the wiring harnesses are different between some of the years for the GT. Did you use a gauge panel from a different year? I know that the plugins are the same and it all fits but I wonder if it makes a difference electrical wise. I once put a whole dash and panel from a 69 into a 70 and it worked ok between those years. I have a dash and panel from a 69 that I'll be putting into a 72 and have been wondering about the difference between them and if it will be a problem.
Click to expand...
I used the wiring harness from my original panel.
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Marc
Thank You - Instrument Panel Update

Thank you to everyone who gave me suggestions on how to trace my directional signals problem.

It took several hours of trial & error working painstakingly with my dremel & the BTP (Thanks OpelDean) through every connector, terminal end, lighsocket & lightbulb. But it was worth it because now every single light works right on the dash... Even the 2 lights in the cigarette lighter. AND The directionals work again.

Thanks again everyone!
Marc
:D
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O
It is always good to hear a positive outcome on the old Opel dash harness. Mine is all out and waiting for reinstallation. While it's out I'm going to do as you have done and clean each contact and use the red battery protectant...had never heard of that before, but it makes sense.
Your patience paid off...way to go!
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