Fuse box problems on 1977 and 1978 Mopars

[Bill Crowell]

On my 1977 and 1978 Chrysler vehicles, I keep getting this problem where my instrument lights and tail lights die. Upon troubleshooting, I find power at one side of the fuse in each circuit, but not on the other side, and it is not caused by a blown fuse. The fuse holder is intermittent or gets too dirty easily, or something. I've replaced the fuses and cleaned up the fuse holder twice now. After I clean the fuse holder, both circuits will start working again, but then it happens again a few months later. Maybe I haven't discovered the actual failure mode. What else can I try, or what should I do to fix this problem permanently? Should I replace the fuse holder? Any suggestions on a high-quality fuse holder that I could use to replace the original Chrysler item?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Bill Crowell]

Aha! Corrosion between the brass fuse clip and the tin lug where they are riveted together. Do I need to drill the rivets out & re-assemble with small bolts and nuts? Conductive paste?

 

[halifaxhops]

Put some dielectric compound on the fuse ends probably fix it.

 

[67Dart273]

I'm sure you are on the right track........corroded, lost temper on the fuse holder. Or loose rivets. Some of those are one piece, that is, the load side clip and the wire terminal are all one piece. Of course it could be in the wire termination as well. "It's right there" where you are now.

Get some "No corrode" (spelling?) soldering flux, clean it up good and solder it together. at the clip.

 

[Bill Crowell]

Del, I always thought that NoKorrode soldering paste was a type of acid flux, so I believed it was not safe to use it on electrical soldering. Am I wrong?