Steering Column/Gauge Cluster Help

You have a shop manual? Download one here:

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=132309&highlight=manual,+download

Wiring looks a mess, is that photo of the headlight switch?

Several areas of concern on old Mopars

One is the bulkhead connector,

the headlight wiring

the ignition switch wiring

the ammeter circuit

the cluster

For insight on what happens with the bulkhead connector, read this article:

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

which came from here:

http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

The simplified diagram down the page, even though referring to pickups also relates to all the older Mopars. Just about ANY of the higher current conductors through the bulkhead can give you trouble, including the ignition run, the headlights, and the battery feed and charging conductors

You can RELIEVE the headlight switch/ and wiring of load problems by installing relays for the headlights

Ditto on the "ignition run" (dark blue), or IGN1 circuit. Some cars have voltage drop through that section of the harness and this causes OVERCHARGING when running, as well as poor spark at certain times. The regulator "thinks" the battery is dead because of drop in that harness, and jacks up the alternator output, thus over voltage/ over charging

The cluster. Several areas of concern

Inspect, clean, repair, replace the connector pins on the PC board

Clean the board around connection points, including mounting screws, lamp sockets, and the nut pads for the gauges.

Inspect the "socket" where the gauge voltage limiter mounts, and if necessary, solder the springy fingers to the PC board.

Loosen/ tighten the nuts on the gauges, and consider replacing the nuts.

Clean the pc pads where the mounting (grounding) screws go. Pick one of the "ground" screws and attach a wire pigtail about a foot or so long, and with a ring terminal on the far end, bolt the other end to the column support behind the cluster.

That connector you pictured is a mess. Any idea why it is all chopped up?