Something doesn't seem right here

Leo2+2 · Guru

Something doesn't seem right here

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

With a bit of practise..

you can usually determine that you have reaches Drive

when the car moves Forward

no need for a light biggrin biggrin biggrin

Leo2+2 · Guru

LOL

But seriously I'm wondering

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Not a 2+2 but just rebuilt my Canso shifter and looks close to the same design as mine. The small clear strip on the backside that is not painted is what allows the light to go through and over to indicator letters, not to be so bright as to blind you when looking at them. Bulbs look awfully dim, like you have a bad ground or wrong size bulb. If you have a piece of wire, go from bulb housing to dash, seat bolt (good ground) etc and see if bulb gets brighter. Can't tell from pic, is there a plastic insert for letters or are they cast right in? Could also turn out your lights and hold a flashlight to the backside to see how they are supposed to look.

-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Tuesday 17th of November 2015 01:06:47 AM

Leo2+2 · Guru

Thanks Jim

I did the flashlight test and the letters are gently visible which leads me to believe that full bright bulbs are required to see the letters.

You are right, bulbs look dim and I suspect this to be the problem and here's why: bulbs go on only when opening the console door, slowly lighting up about ½-second after the console light goes on PROVIDED THAT THE PARKING / HEAD LIGHTS ARE OFF. I think these lights should go on when turning the car's lights on but they don't. Can this be confirmed by someone that has this type of console?

The letters are cast right in, no plastic insert.

I do have a wire. I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to electronics: do you want me to squeeze the wire between bulb and housing and the other end to the seat bulb? Or I misunderstood the connection?

Cheers,

Leo

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

If the bulb light housing (dished part that bulbs sit in) is metal, you can go from there to a good ground(seat bolt etc) strip each end of the wire and put one end to housing and the other to a good ground. If you have a poor ground on factory wire the temporary wire should make them go brighter and yes shift indicator lights should come on with dash/headlights.

-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Tuesday 17th of November 2015 10:26:32 PM

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Looks like a 3 year old did this! Ever try writing with a mouse! Pic is where one end of the wire should go to and the other end should go to ground.

Leo2+2 · Guru

Thanks Jim. I will try when I get a chance and port the outcome.

Cheers,

Leo

Leo2+2 · Guru

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED. I connected the wire to the bolt under the seat but nothing happened. As I was reassembling everything back the cover with the labels touched the right side of the bulb housing and the lights went on very bright. I played around with it and it flashed on & off but when I put everything back into place the lights didn't come on as they are supposed to.

I don't know if there's a part missing somewhere or a contact not made, etc. but it seems like the connection is not proper. Any hints from here?

Regards, Leo

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Sounds to me like you still have a grounding issue or poor wire conection. Think the bulb housing(cuped part) grounds to the console and when you re mount the indicator plate it is not holding the bulb housing tight enough to make a good conection. Not sure if your console has a seperate ground wire that goes to shifter base. Maybe someone else can chime in as to wiring/ground?

koolconvertible · Poncho Master!

Clean off any paint and possible scale around the parts which will continue the ground connection. If the housing screws into plastic on the console, it might rely on a earthstrap wire. Clean any ring style connectors which go under screws of any corrosion, may not be obvious. Bulb housing to console frame, console frame to body etc. Maybe use starwashers for extra contact. Check chassis to body grounding straps etc. I like my metal bits whether copper, bronze, steel to be nice shiny metal both sides when contact is important. A small blatt of spray can be put on after if there is concern for corrosion.

maybe a connector has the conductor strands broken inside the insulation. When wiggled the conductors touch. Redo the connector.

smallest thing can be frustrating......

-- Edited by koolconvertible on Thursday 19th of November 2015 03:47:21 PM

Leo2+2 · Guru

I tried cleaning, wiggling, grounding with external wiring and nothing has resolved the issue. I know I'm close though ... occasionally lights go bright as described before. Eventually I'll get it! furious

koolconvertible · Poncho Master!

The lamps are not wired in series are they?

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

You either have a 12 volt power supply issue or a ground issue.

Do you have a tester? If not, make one with a 12 volt light bulb and socket, one with 2 wires coming out of it. Use black electric tape to cover anything with 12 volts you don't want making contact with ground. Connect your 2 wires to the posts of your battery, doesn't matter which is positive or negative, if you got it right, the bulb will light every time.

The power supply problem could be that the bulb is not seating correctly, or that a wire is loose somewhere. With your light switch on, connect your tester wire to your power supply on the console light bulb you are trying to get working. Then take the second wire and touch it to anything that will give a good ground and your test bulb should light every time. If it does, the power supply to your console is working fine, so either the bulb is not getting a good connection, or you have a bad ground.

Don

Leo2+2 · Guru

FINALLY it's working properly! Grounding issue. The housing was sitting a bit lose and now all is working properly.

I just took the car out for a spin; with this great weather and no salt I couldn't resist! Plus had to fill the tank for the winter.

Thank you all for your great help.

Leo

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Glad you got her figured out! My insurance expired Dec 6th so no more cruising until spring. cry