74 Duster Electric problems

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74' Duster

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My duster has been having electric problems since i picked it up in January. It started off with small things. then the tail and brake lights started blowing fuses ever once in a while then completely stoped working. During that time the only work i did was change the radio that the previous owner had added. Any time i turn on the headlights the fuse blows and the tailights stop working and even with a good fuse and the headlights off the brake lights dont work. I did find that one of the tailight sockets was bad so i replaced it. I have pulled out the instrement cluster and started to pull the underdash wiring harness down to try to find a short but to no result yet. I am wondering if i should just try and get another harness and see if that helps or if it would be easier to just fix the one i got. I have no testers or very many tools so it makes it kind of hard, this is my first project i love the car just not the electric stuff its a pain. Any help would be great.
 
You don't need much in the way of testers, but you do need a few things, and it'll cost you about 50 bucks total

Either go to an auto parts store and buy a 12V test lamp or MAKE one. If you are really strapped for cash, this is not difficult to do LOTS of ways to make one, depending on what you have for parts lying around. Something like an old tail lamp socket or dome light will work

Go to radio shack and buy a couple of bags of their clip leads, one of the "large size" leads, and one of the smaller size cllip leads

Look over their test meters (digital multimeter) and seriously consider buying one.

BUT you can do a LOT so far as basic lighting and fuses with just a test lamp

For example, take the kick panel apart and find the connector in the harness where the harness comes forward out from under the door sill and connects with the dash harness.

DISCONNECT that connector temporarily, and see if that stops the fuse blowing. If so, take a GOOD look at that rear harness and the sockets.

It's a few minutes to yank the door sill plate off, pull the rear seat, and access the harness, and inspect it for cuts and damage.

The other thing you REALLY need is to get a factory shop manual. You can buy these several places on the internet on CD, some as low as 30 bucks or so.

There are "usable" diagrams here, but believe me, there are mistakes, and a lot missing so far as accessories

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1974/74ValiantA.jpg

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1974/74ValiantB.jpg

Another thing that can cause blown fuses IS THE FUSE BOX ITSELF. These cars are getting old, things deteriorate. If the fuse holder clips get loose connections, or rusty/ corroded, and don't make good tight connections to the fuse, they HEAT UP. And heat blows the fuse!!!

So you want to take a sideways look at the fuse panel.

Post back here and we'll help walk you through some tests
 
You didn't say much about the radio change. It is typical for aftermarket radio install to be the root of many problems.
 
Buy a mult-meter, learn to use it. You might start liking electrical systems. With the meter, electrical stuff talks, and you can figure out what is happening by measuring, voltage, resistance. Low end multi-meters start at about $10.
 
You can get a multi-meter for free w/ coupon at Harbor Freight. I keep one in all my cars. The wiring diagrams are fairly simple and easy to read, and these cars are fairly simple wiring. The main thing that would be blowing all these fuses is short(s) to ground. If all your wires are frayed and crumbly, that could do it, but usually the interior wires are still fine (tail-lights, etc.). I would also suspect the fusebox. You can drop it down w/ one screw.
 
RedFish said:
You didn't say much about the radio change. It is typical for aftermarket radio install to be the root of many problems.
Click to expand...

My own useless meth--hed nephew.

Had an old Jeep Wagoneer, which used to run just fine. Just HAD to have that big "amp."

So he chops into the under dash wiring, gets the MAIN UNFUSED supply conductor, half--assed taped the "new" wiring to it NO FUSES NEEDED, the smoke will let you know "if" there's a problem.

"HOW many miles up Rapid Lightning are you? You want me to come up there and DO WHAT??"
 

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