Need a MOWOG and very confused

[JPSmit]

well, one step forward, two back. I needed to connect the cigarette lighter so that I can use the GPS when I leave for the 50th. While I had the console off, I replaced a lightbulb in the hazard switch surround, and replaced a fuse in the "keep the radio station memory" line. Put it all together and now the signal lights and the tailights are on permanently. The hazard lights still work and the headlights. any thoughts?

Also, if you put a battery cut off switch (negative ground) on the car, does it matter which side it is on?

Finally if someone has a spare MOWOG, my fingers are just too thick for this.

Quick advice needed though. am off to lunch (not out to lunch) and will check back later - thanks all!

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Sounds like you just connected something back together incorrectly. (Not that helpful) But you could take the fuse out of the radio memory line to be sure that there is not some sort of feedback issue.

 

[RyanBez]

1) To me it sounds like a wire is shorted. This could be caused by multiple things. A spliced wire, or a loose wire in the fuse box could do it. Make sure a piece of metal or something isn't shorting multiple fuses together.

2) I would put the switch on the positve end. If it is on the negative end and then any of the components ground you will bypass your switch. Think of it like pipes of water, if you put a valve at the end of the pipe and someone cuts a hole in the middle of your pipe, your valve isn't doing anything.

 

[Sarastro]

Something's obviously connected wrong. Just replacing a bulb and a fuse wouldn't do that.

The cutoff switch can be in either pole of the battery, and it will work, but it's best to put in the negative (i.e., ground) side. That way, if you drop a wrench and it shorts the positive battery terminal to ground, no damage. If the cutoff is in the positive lead, though, that same dropped wrench will become unwrenched, and you will probably need a change of underwear, at best.

 

[Morris]

IIRC (and I rarely do) there are 2 fuse holder thingies under there. One goes to the radio, and one goes to the signals. Could it be possible that you hooked one end of the radio to the other end of the signals?

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Try removing the fuse. Reason, sometimes it's a light feed, or, you have it patched to lights and it's backfeeding when key on. Should be easy enough to pull it and see.

 

[Guest]

12) If it is on the negative end and then any of the components ground you will bypass your switch. Think of it like pipes of water, if you put a valve at the end of the pipe and someone cuts a hole in the middle of your pipe, your valve isn't doing anything.

Re think this. Ground to what? thae battery? it can't cause the - terminal isn't hooked to the car anymore. A lot of the stuff in our race cars are switched on the negative side. That way if there is a problem we just run it to ground and it'll work.

 

[JPSmit]

won't get it today but I think the fuse is correct - it is grounding the whole system. My disconnect is on the ground side and when I turned it, the lights stayed on. will keep you posted.

 

[DrEntropy]

12) If it is on the negative end and then any of the components ground you will bypass your switch. Think of it like pipes of water, if you put a valve at the end of the pipe and someone cuts a hole in the middle of your pipe, your valve isn't doing anything.

Re think this. Ground to what? thae battery? it can't cause the - terminal isn't hooked to the car anymore. A lot of the stuff in our race cars are switched on the negative side. That way if there is a problem we just run it to ground and it'll work.

Yup/ And as Steve said, it'll work either way. But the "ground" or "earth" side of the battery is where it should be.

Electrons ain't like water. No "pressure", just "excitement" or lack thereof. With either side disconnected the wires are just inert copper, the circuit is broken.

Current "flow", contrary to Mr. Franklin and all th' early crazies who played around with electrocution, is not from "positive to negative". They had a fifty-fifty shot and guessed wrong.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Actually, I think they had the flow correct, but mis-named the electrodes. :wink:

 

[Jer]

JP as a last ditch effort, return everything back to the way it was & get a 12V power plug with alligator clips from Crappy Tire, I checked last night - they got em' it will get you power & you don't have to worry about messin things up this close to departure time !

 

[JPSmit]

well, I wish I had a good answer but I don't. I took the console off, disconnected the radio fuse wire, no difference. re-connected, wiggled wires, everything fine. disconnected, everything fine. Long and short of it, everything fine - radio still doesn't work but I'm not loosing sleep on that one. Reattached and everything is good. Car is clean, baking in the drive - two more sleeps.

Thanks for your advice all.

 

[Guest]

Doc, that's the example Herr Geise used to teach us in school. A water tower to be exact. The "pressure" is voltage, amperage is the water and resistance is the facet at the bottom of the tower.

Fits in my brain good.

 

[DrEntropy]

Actually, I think they had the flow correct, but mis-named the electrodes. :wink:

Good'n, Trev. :banana: