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'79 Electrical problems

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Lost gauges, fan, turn signals suddenly. Came off and on a few times; off right now. Fuses seem o.k. Any ideas where to start?
 
On a 79.....ignition switch...power in, ignition out, start out, right? and loads out.
First, use a test light on the fuse clips, both sides, see if you really have power. Load power if like on a B, comes out of the switch to the fuses, test light is your friend here, find a good non-rusty ground, key on, and check. If you have no power in, that's switch or wire between switch and fuseblock.
Does the car still run?
Power into the fuseblock, at least on a B, jumps right back out for coil, but everything else is that fuse.

I'll go find a wiring diagram.
 
Car runs fine. I put the meter on the fuse block, showed 0.00v in all locations but that can't be right. Cheap HF mini meter. Battery is dead in my big one.
 
No test light? Man, how can you have a vehicle with Lucas Electrics and no test light?

One side of VM to clean ground, key on, test the actual clips to the fuses first. Fuse clip corrosion is a big problem.
 
Check the fuse with the red wires coming from it. Red is signals, red an white instrument lights ( did you loode the instrument lights or the instruments? Other than the fuse, the male connectors can be loose too where they meet the fuses.
 
I have a test light. Found it, cheap Chinese fuse. Looks fine but no juice through.
 
Yup. Common. Test lights are really, really handy if you have power. I've seen those fuse issues......and the stupid solder breaks inside the cup where you can't see it.
 
Yes, I've seen that happen too. It can also happen with light bulbs--the filament looks good, but the wire has broken between the base and the bulb.
 
I have had many issues with that craptacular fuse box. I was just looking at it last night and contemplating a replacement.
 
Morris said:
I have had many issues with that craptacular fuse box. I was just looking at it last night and contemplating a replacement.
Click to expand...


Well, you wanted to make parts for Spridgets. There ya go.
 
When I went to an alternator I saved the old regulator cover and made a new aluminum plate with 6 fuse blocks in it and covered it with the voltage regulator cover and no one knows it there but me. I still use the old fuse block but cleaned it up good and only use it for the basic thing and anything else is routed to the new fuses.
 
Haha Kim, Miss Agatha has her original fuse block. Heck has only worked for 53 years now, expect it to last another 10 0r 20.
 
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