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65 Ambo parking light/taillight/dash light circuit

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palutz44 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote palutz44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 65 Ambo parking light/taillight/dash light circuit
    Posted: May/10/2021 at 2:30pm
I have a '65 Ambassador 327/880, & I believe Classics and Marlins have the same wiring.  Anyway, I'm having trouble with the parking light / tail light / dash light circuit.  As soon as I pull the light switch to any position, the 9A fuse blows.  I did replace the headlight switch thinking that would be a cheap & easy fix (hopefully).  That worked, but only for a day.  Since, I can't keep a fuse in it, just like before.

The tail and parking light bulbs are ok.  Brake lights and headlights work.  Last I saw, all the dash lights worked.  Being a half-a$$ mechanic, I don't know where to start.  I do have a test light and a multi-tester.  Can anyone point me in the right direction?  Thanks in advance!

-Phil
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FleetMaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/10/2021 at 3:31pm
Take out bulbs in all the circuits, then replace one by one till fuse goes- focus on that circuit.  If you have a wire with failed insulation, this idea may not help as you fault to ground before current reaches the bulb.  Along the same lines, see if there are couplers or junction blocks where you can separate portions of the wiring harness.  bring them live again one by one and test each circuit.  Ihave too many cars and makes to remember how AMC / Rambler set up their harness.  Many makes had most of the front lights as a subsection of the harness to connect when the body and doghouse were assembled at the factory.  Electrical gremlins are a bear.
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palutz44 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote palutz44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/10/2021 at 4:15pm
Thanks!  I will try that.

-Phil
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote troutwilly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/10/2021 at 11:17pm
You should, for sure, get yourself a TSM (Technical Service Manual).  I can't tell you how many times I've referred just to the wiring diagram in mine.

Also, I believe the headlights, parking lights and dash gauge lights work through the headlight switch.  I'm basing my comments on '70s models.  The brake lights and turn signals are separate.  So if the fuse doesn't blow on brake/turn signal operation its on to the others.

You've replaced the headlight switch so pull it back out and look at the letters identifying the terminals.  They're relatively intuitive.  H is for headlight, P is for parking, I is for instrument, might be a D for dome.  Have only one connected at a time and see how the fuse holds up.  May tell which is bad.  And as I was typing, I realized there are 2 power feeds, one for headlights and one for other lights.  Do you know which fuse, other than the 9 amp?  Is the fuse block labeled?  Again, hoping they didn't change too much from 65 to 70.

And here's another quickie.  Check the high beam switch on the floor and make sure there's no short going on there.  High and low beams are powered through the dimmer switch.
Bill O.
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palutz44 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote palutz44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2021 at 7:55am
Thank you.  I do have a service manual, but I will say the wiring diagrams are hard to follow.  You are right about the headlight switch controlling those things.  The fuse block is labelled "park-tail" and the headlights themselves are on another circuit.  

Thanks for the advice, I will try those things.  Much appreciated.

-Phil


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote troutwilly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2021 at 9:38pm
Originally posted by palutz44 palutz44 wrote:

Thank you.  I do have a service manual, but I will say the wiring diagrams are hard to follow. 


I've got a pair of flip down magnifier lenses (think Steve Erkle) that I just love, now.  Used to say never, but I bet I look just like grandpa with 'em.  They work.
Bill O.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote george w Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2021 at 5:27am
Don't forget to check the license plate light and it's wiring at the rear bumper and just inside the trunk. It's on that 9A circuit too.
BTW, the headlights are not fused through the fuse panel. There's a circuit breaker for the headlights built directly within the headlight switch.
See if the fuse blows if the dash light dimmer is set fully clockwise to the full dim/almost off setting. You may have a short or partial short in the dash light wiring circuit that includes the heater controls, radio illumination and possibly an ashtray light. Setting the dash light dimmer set to full dim will reduce the draw on that circuit and could possibly eliminate the dash lighting circuit from the troubleshooting steps.
Long time AMC fan. Ambassador 343, AMX 390, Hornet 360, Spirit 304 and Javelin 390. All but javelin bought new.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote First_Gear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2021 at 4:18pm
Short circuits can be hard to find but fortunately the wiring on these is quite simple. I literally just put the harness back in my 66. Unplug the orange wire going into the switch. Does it still blow fuses?
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palutz44 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote palutz44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/15/2021 at 7:46am
Update - I pulled all of the parking / tail / tag light bulbs.  Still blew the fuse.  Then I pulled out the headlight switch and electric taped over the "D" pin, thinking that must mean dash.  Bingo!  No more blown fuse.  

So now I guess it's somewhere in the dash.  Any ideas?

Bill O. - I have glasses for the computer, glasses for reading, and glasses for up-close work.  I still can't see anything very well ;)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Heavy 488 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/15/2021 at 7:52am
Originally posted by palutz44 palutz44 wrote:

.  I still can't see anything very well ;)

And yet they drive
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