Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: tat2dphreak Apr 30 2004, 07:16 PM

first the thrills of victory: the engine's in, and starts it took a push button for the starter(temp fix) but the damn thing will run...

now the new barrage of questions:

1) when I turn the key "on" the brake lights in the rear come on... now, I don't have the front brakes even attached right now (SOON) but will that cause the brake lights to be on? what to check?

2) this one is just annoying: when I turn on a blinker(either) they work fine on the outside of the car, just like they are supposed to, but both indicators on the tach come one (like when the hazards are on)... the hazard switch works perfect... I just don't get why both indicators come on


3) there are 3-4 wires that the wiring diagram shows going to the coil... but which side? there's a green wire from the distro, a blk/red wire, a blk/purple wire and I think there's 1 more... but I could be wrong? at anyrate, which side (+or - ) do these wires go to on the coil?

thanks in advance!

Posted by: TimT Apr 30 2004, 07:47 PM

check the grounds at each turn signal/light assembly... sounds like you have an open ground in parts of the circuit..

Posted by: TimT Apr 30 2004, 07:48 PM

BTW its always a good feeling when the engine coughs and sputters to life

Posted by: markb Apr 30 2004, 07:51 PM

For the gauge indicators, make sure you have the right diode(resistor?) hooked up. Make sure it's plugged in the right way, too. Drove me nuts figuring mine out.

Posted by: Joe Ricard Apr 30 2004, 07:57 PM

Green wire from distributor is on Negative side. Pulling this out of my ass but one of the black wires has 12V on it and goes to the positive side. You also have the tach wire I believe negative side but you better check me on that.

Geesh thats what I get for jumpin in and talking out my ass. Hope I haven't confused you more.

Posted by: tat2dphreak Apr 30 2004, 09:25 PM

actually I think you cleared everything up...

the diagram shows the green wire and one other on one side, with the other wire on the opposite side... but the +/- is not labeled

if the green/? is on neg. then the other wire is on pos. thanks!!


I will check the other things tomm.

Posted by: 94teener May 1 2004, 11:46 AM

The brake light switch in a 914 is not a pressure switch, so if your brake pedal is relaxed forward for any reason, it will turn on the brake lights. Don't worry about this until you get your front brakes installed.

The twin flashing turn signals is standard in the later cars (some tachs only have one turn signal indicator). If you want to convert your indicators to left and right, it's easy to do.

Phil

Posted by: tat2dphreak May 1 2004, 05:28 PM

seriously? both indicators always come on in later cars?! mine's a '72, but who knows where the gauges came from...

how would I convert it, assuming that is the issue? I plan to check ll the grounds first... then check markb's suggestion... mark, or someone, do you have a picture of what it should look like?

I'm assuming right now that the brake switch is the culprit... could it be, that I simply need to adjust the actuator rod that goes into the M/C? or is that not the fault?

Posted by: TimT May 1 2004, 05:40 PM

not sure I can buy into that..Ive had some really early 911's like 69's... and the tach definitely tells you which turn signal you've activated.. And later cars have more advanced wiring schemes..

Apply turn signal for left turn , and the left arrow blinks... ditto for right

If a bulb is out both arrows blink... if you have a faulty ground, both arrows blink

I think you have to check the grounds...clean all the fittings in the turn signal housings etc.

Posted by: tat2dphreak May 1 2004, 05:45 PM

I thought that sounded ...weird... even old-assed beetles told you which turn signal was on...

the grounds or bad bulb seemed the first choice to me.. but "usually" that bulb won't work or get hot...

it's also possible/probable that the guy could have used a wrong bulb(1157 instead of 1140) ... would that cause this though?

Posted by: DuckRyder May 1 2004, 06:00 PM

Pretty sure mine only has one light in the tach.

make sure you get the =12v wire on the oppisite pole from the green coil wire or you will let the majic smoke out and be looking for a new point wire.

It'll be o.k. if I just keep to myself how I know that right.....

Posted by: Dave_Darling May 1 2004, 07:08 PM

The 74+ tachs only have one turn signal light. Some early 74s had the 73 tach with two lights, but they were wired up so they both flashed at the same time. You need the earlier tach (with the silver cone in the middle) if you want two turn signal indicators.

Sounds like the original problem may be a ground or something wired incorrectly.

The coil connections: Black (may have red stripe) goes to (+). Green goes to (-). Black/purple (thinner than the other black wire, and the purple can be hard to see so look carefully) goes to (-).

--DD

Posted by: SirAndy May 1 2004, 07:55 PM

he's right, but that change didn't happen until late '73 ...

Andy

Posted by: SirAndy May 1 2004, 08:01 PM

guys, he HAS a '72 ....

his wire harness is set up for 2 separate turn signal indicators.
if they flash at the same time (they usually go a bit dim if they do so) it's either a ground problem or the diode is mounted wrong.

if it is a ground problem, there's a easy fix, just add a ground wire to each bulb or make sure the gauge is grounded itself. that'll fix it ...

some late '73 already had the single indicator, some early '74 still had the dual gauge with just ONE bulb hooked up, seems to be the same old porsche factory pattern we have seen so often in the past:

use whatever is still sitting on the shelf first before you put in the new parts ...

Andy

Posted by: 94teener May 1 2004, 09:15 PM

Look guys, if you have a tach that has both turn signal indicators on it and they flash simultaneously, you can "easily" wire the tach to operate left and right, like your Honda or Ford.
I'll make up a little diagram showiing how to do this and post it.

Phil

Posted by: 94teener May 1 2004, 10:31 PM

Here is a diagram showing wiring for left and right turn signal indicators. Notice that the LEFT indicator is shown as connected to the RIGHT turn signal BK/GR wiring and the RIGHT indicator is wired to the LEFT turn signal BK/WH wiring. Anyone know why this is?
Wire it as shown and it will work correctly.

Phil


Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: SirAndy May 1 2004, 10:56 PM

but his car is a '72, so he ALREADY HAS the right wiring!

my point is, even if you have the right wiring for individual lights, they CAN flash together if there's a problem with the grounds for each side or the diode is mounted wrong.

do i make sense here?
Andy

Posted by: 94teener May 2 2004, 12:19 AM

Andy,

Yes, you are correct about the 72 wiring, but where is the diode you mention?

Burned out turn signal bulbs will also cause dimmed turn signal indicator lamps. If you have both turn signal bulbs burned out on the same side of the car, then your turn signal indicator lamp for the opposite side of the car will not illuminate at all.


Phil