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Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:06 am
by Fairlady5150
I have what I assume is a short on my 67.5 1600 that has me scratching my head, would like to run it by the group for thoughts and ideas. Drove the car this morning in a moderate drizzle, so I was running the wipers and headlights. Not far from home, the wipers stopped in the vertical position with the wiper switch still on, and both turn signal indicators in the dash lit up and remained continuously lit. Tried switching off the wipers and headlights with no change. But the turn signal would work under these conditions. Wipers and turn signal lamps (in dash) remained on after I shut off the car and turned the switches off. A few minutes later the wipers went down to the 'rest' position and the turn signal indicator lamps went off. I disconnected the battery just in case.

Any thoughts? This is kind of bizarre. :-)

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:13 am
by rwmann
Intermittent rain-induced wiring harness short?

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:16 am
by Bwk2000
Fairlady5150 wrote: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:06 am
… Any thoughts? This is kind of bizarre. :-)
Your wipers and turn signals share the same ground wire … That’s where to start.
I would first check the two frame grounding wires beneath the wiper fluid tank. Grind away the paint/rust/ and make sure they have a clean contact.

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:45 am
by Habitat.pat
I sent the same thing as Kai but for some reason it didn’t post. Yes, check the ground.

Peace,
Pat

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 1:00 pm
by Fairlady5150
Kai, Pat

I'll check the frame grounds, thanks. Are you aware of a ground under the dash?

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 1:27 pm
by Bwk2000
One of those two wires I mentioned is the primary ground for all dash controls (It’s just not located under the dash). The second wire on the grounding bolt is, I believe, the headlight ground (for the early cars). My ‘69 just has the one dash ground wire there.

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 8:09 pm
by Gregs672000
Naaaah, you guys are all wrong... it's the previous owners ghost messing with you, if I can believe all my ghost hunting shows I've Watched! :wink:

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:48 pm
by Habitat.pat
Could be, Greg. Since he’s having trouble with a 1.6, that’s where ghosts like to go. I’m just be glad he doesn’t have a 2L w/Solexes, ghost’s REALLY like hiding in there!

Peace,
Pat

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 11:18 am
by Gregs672000
Is that rattling chains in the attic? Nope, just my timing chain...

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 12:26 pm
by Bwk2000
You two almost have me believing it.

If the grounding thing doesn’t work, a Datsun exorcism it is!

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:51 pm
by Curtis
I would look for anyplace that the wires could bare and touching. Sounds like something has crossed over to the dark side. Headlights are a separate circuit.

https://kendo-usa.org/datsun/datsun_wip ... _66_67.pdf

https://kendo-usa.org/datsun/datsun_par ... 66_675.pdf

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:53 pm
by Curtis
Drawing is wrong for 67.5 wipers. This one.

https://kendo-usa.org/datsun/datsun_wip ... t_67_5.pdf

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:06 pm
by Bwk2000
Curtis wrote: Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:53 pm Drawing is wrong for 67.5 wipers. This one.

https://kendo-usa.org/datsun/datsun_wip ... t_67_5.pdf
Interesting. Is the ground still shared (wipers and signal lamps specifically)?

At any rate, Fairlady5150, Curtis is the wiring expert here - I would follow his advise (and drawings) 🙂

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:10 pm
by Curtis
Yup, one ground wire for the whole dash. I'm not betting on the ground unless it is touching somewhere.

Re: Interesting electrical short

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 9:05 pm
by redroadster
It's more of an electrical open circuit ( a short is the power bypassing the appliance )
Try voltage drop , ohms or continuity beep tests, redundant grounds( which are quick easy to do)