centech finally installed

[74bucker]

Started my total rewire on my 74 in early December due to a cluster of frayed and retwisted wiring and directionals that sporadically functioned and the lack of any brake lights . unfortunately the lack of heat in my garage and the arctic style weather we had here in vermont this past winter put a hold on it shortly after I had wired the dash .
Was surprised at the cheap plastic bulb holders for the dash sockets they came with that literally popped out of the holes while working around them{ I cut them all off and ran the originals with new grounds }.. other than that , was pretty good going.
Hooked up the positive terminal and checked out my job , and was perfect except for my passenger side directionals...... not working at all , along with the marker light on the rear. I have all new bulbs and believe the grounds are good as well { ground down the original location and reinstalled the new ones.}
When I started this all , I purchased the centrech as well as a new directional assembly from WH so I would have one less thing to
worry about ...........
I do recollect that the new signal harness colors were not a perfect match to the centech , and also believe there was a green wire unaccounted for.

Any ideas come to mind from the same experience ? I will get back tonight to the turn signal wiring manual that came with it from WH and see if something was wrong with the marriage to the centech plug ins.

 

[DirtDonk]

...Was surprised at the cheap plastic bulb holders for the dash sockets they came with that literally popped out of the holes while working around them{ I cut them all off and ran the originals with new grounds }..

Kind of surprised this happens. Never seen it personally in any I've done, and the plastic ones were WAY better than the originals that rarely held their ground for long. The plastic ones had their own separate ground wire, where the stock ones grounded through their case to the cluster. Very erratic once they start to corrode, but it sounds like you probably bypassed that future trouble.
The ones I've seen were a very tight fit. I wonder if they're using different suppliers?

except for my passenger side directionals...... not working at all , along with the marker light on the rear.

If the hazards and brake lights and running lights work, then your grounds are fine. Only questionable one would be for the side marker light which has it's own wire. But if that is grounded to the same spot as the others, you should be able to test it easily.

I do recollect that the new signal harness colors were not a perfect match to the centech , and also believe there was a green wire unaccounted for.

This has to be the issue in this case I would think. Does your dash indicator light illuminate with the hazards?
Short of a bad turn signal switch (bummer if so, but easy to test) the only thing that would let the brake lights work and not the turn signal would be the switch or the wiring.

You need to check that Green wire. One of the colors for the turn signals just happens to be green from the factory, but since GM wire colors don't always match the Ford stuff, I don't remember if that holds true for Centech.

Since the left side works, then so does the flasher unit. Since the brake light works on the right, then the turn signal switch is letting the power through to the light.
Not sure which way it would have gone bad, but the column wiring is the finickest of the bunch for a re-wire.

Good luck!

Paul

 

[74bucker]

Paul

Thanks for your input. I dove into it last night and here are some bits that might make more sense of this dilemma I am experiencing .
** I have all my running lights { headlight/tail light/markers }
** NO flashers { no click or dash blinks for it either }
**left turn signal front and back are fine
** left brake light fine
** right flasher front and back dead { get dim non flash on dash bulb for it }
** right brake light is dead
checked grounds for the tail lights , and looked fine.
swapped the flashers and made no difference
maybe this makes more sense ..... guessing could be all contributed to the
turn switch ? wasn't sure , but always seem to see everything associated that way
VERY frustrating

 

[DirtDonk]

...I have all my running lights { headlight/tail light/markers }

Then your grounds to the light sockets are fine. You might get a dim brake light if you have a semi-bad ground, but if your tail lights illuminate, they have a ground.

** NO flashers { no click or dash blinks for it either }

Better track this issue down. Without your flashers it tells me (I hear voices sometimes...) that you might still have some mis-wired connections at the steering column.
Yes, the switch and flasher unit are on/under the dash, but they all go through the turn signal switch before going out back.

**left turn signal front and back are fine
** left brake light fine

Thank goodness for small favors! Your turn signal unit/relay is working, so it won't be that causing trouble for the other side.

** right flasher front and back dead { get dim non flash on dash bulb for it }
** right brake light is dead

Have you swapped bulbs? Or at least ohmed out the bulb to make sure that the filament for the brake/signal/flasher lights is still good?

swapped the flashers and made no difference

Then you still have a wiring issue with the flasher setup. Since none of the four lamps work and the unit does not click, there is a problem with the new wiring connections.

maybe this makes more sense ..... guessing could be all contributed to the turn switch? wasn't sure, but always seem to see everything associated that way

Well, it "could" be related. But it still sounds like the common denominator is back at the tail lamp itself. Whether the socket, the bulb, the wiring in between, or something else. The hazard issue could be related, or it could be a separate issue you're dealing with.
But if it's a separate issue, it just screams out that there is a mixed up couple of wires at the steering column connector.

Paul

 

[74bucker]

made some good headway,
Went back through the connection at the directional plug and saw where I needed to put the dark green wire where I had the lt blue /red { mid years vs.late } and wouldn't you know , it got my pass rear directional and brake lights working as they should. no front directional as of yet , nor flashers at this point , but was more concerned over what got remedied .
Thanks for the help Paul

guessing it will probably come back to a ground situation in the end

 

[DirtDonk]

Especially in the front often times.
The old connection (spot welds) between the core support and the rest of the truck get weak from a ground-bond standpoint, so sometimes it's necessary to create your own.

In fact, this is a good idea with an EB anytime, but especially when a new harness is installed. Yes, the main harness has all it's appropriate ground circuits to control the individual loads, but you need to come up with your own main grounds.

Did you add them here and there as needed yet? Or are you working with the stock or PO installed ground cables only?

Paul

 

[74bucker]

I am putting on two heavy braided straps today from body to frame and frame to motor....hopefully that is the cure. I did notice the front directional that doesn't function also has one of the two socket contacts that hasn't the same spring return when you push in on it and sits in farther than the other. I'll dick around with that as well.
thanks for the wisdom

 

[DirtDonk]

Yeah, along with failing grounds (when they're even there in the first place!) the old bulb sockets can get old and die too.
Whether from losing a spring, rusting out, coming loose, or just getting all gunky, ya gotta have a good reliable contact there.

Luckily they're fixable, replaceable as an individual piece, customizable (billet aluminum stuff) or simply replace the whole reflector assembly with socket already installed.
The first is the cheapest (you can buy a kit with new spring, fiber insulator, contacts with springs and length of wire. And the last option (the entire unit) is often the easiest and nets you a new reflector in case yours is all rusty anyway.
The socket by itself is fine, but a little finicky when trying to re-attach the new one to the old reflector.
The billet aluminum style clamps on easily, but is more expensive too, obviously.

Paul

 

[74bucker]

just ordered up two new complete reflector assemblies from WH and patiently awaiting them to cross the country and by mid week be cured of them little electrical gremlins that have taunted me since I started working on her last spring. The nice part is that I am getting to drive it , and that I have !