TR4/4A removing the rheostat

[JimTR4]

Hi all,
Just want to check something before I blow anything up...
I am removing the rheostat (its flaky and in any case doesn't do much gauge dimming anyway). I'll use the hole in the dash for a switch for driving lights.
Anyway, am I right in thinking I can simply connect all the wires attached to the rheostat together and then the gauge lights will be on "full power" all the time )when the lights are switched on)? That would be the solid red wire and the 3 red/whites.
The thing that's confused me is that if I put a continuity tester from the solid read to a ground, I get a circuit???
Many thanks.

 

[martx-5]

Yes, you can hook the red and the red/white together to eliminate the rheostat. If you still have both of the rheostat wires hooked up when doing the continuity to ground, it's because the circuit is going through the rheostat and through the bulbs to ground.

 

[JimTR4]

Thanks - i don't actually have the rheostat attached and the solid red and 3 red/whites are currently all separated. I'm getting a circuit between the solid red and ground. I'm probably being thick but I still don't see why that's happening.

Yes, you can hook the red and the red/white together to eliminate the rheostat. If you still have both of the rheostat wires hooked up when doing the continuity to ground, it's because the circuit is going through the rheostat and through the bulbs to ground.

 

[martx-5]

Thanks - i don't actually have the rheostat attached and the solid red and 3 red/whites are currently all separated. I'm getting a circuit between the solid red and ground. I'm probably being thick but I still don't see why that's happening.

Actually, I looked at the wiring diagram, and the red wire goes back to the fuse box where there are two more red wires attached, that go to various other lights that go to ground, so that's the path. See the link below to the wiring diagram.

https://www.advanceautowire.com/tr24a.pdf

 

[Geo Hahn]

If you were to trace that red wire backwards you'll find it goes to other bulbs (e.g. parking lamps) and thus finds a ground through them.

 

[JimTR4]

thanks!