Re: BigKev's 1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe Sedan

Posted by BigKev On 2010/9/14 23:27:00

So dash is pretty much all buttoned up as far as the electrical goes. Only things in the car not hooked up are the clock, because I need a voltage reducer for it; the license plate lights, the backup lights (still need to drill the holes and mount them), and the front parking lights as the grille is not on car yet.

When I first connected the car to a power source, I put my multi-meter in series with the 12v power supply, and I noticed a very small 6.7 milli-amp load on multi-meter with everything turned off. It turned out to be something with the headlight switch position. As soon as I pulled it all the way out and back in, the load disappeared.

Once I verified that I had to more phantom load issues with everything turned off, I hooked up the car battery and went through all the checks.

I noticed that the light on the ignition switch is not coming on with the parking lights. So I will need to check on that. It could just be a loose bulb or something. Cigar lighter isn't working, checking the wire it's dead. So I need to check the fuse on it.

Only other gremlin is the rear passenger side taillight. It's being funky. I think there is a problem with the bulb or socket, insufficient ground, etc.

When I turn the parking lights on, the driver side taillight is brighter. If I press the brake light, the driver's side light gets brighter as expected from the 2nd filament coming on. But the passenger side then goes completely dark. (parking light turns off) All I can figure is that the filaments in the bulb on that side are sorted together or something. I don't think it's a wiring issue as the parking light is the same physical wire between the both tail lights. I will pull the taillight off tomorrow and give it check to see what the heck is going on.

I went through all the checks. With the light switch pulled to the first position the parking lights come on. The dash lights come on and the quadrant pointer glows green. The turning the switch adjusts the dash light brightness.

Pulling the switch all the way out and the headlights come on. Clicking the dimmer on the floor the brights come on, and the bright indicator lights up on the cluster.

Turning the ignition to the on position, the "Gen" and "Oil" light come on as expected as the engine is not running. The "Gen" light is wired inline into the alternator exciter wire. The start position works as expected where only the coil and starter get power, and everything else turns off to give the max amount of juice to the starter. As soon as the motor starts the oil light goes out, and when cold the GEN light goes out right away as the engine is spinning at fast idle and that is enough to kick the alternator into charge mode. With the engine warmed up, the GEN light stays on when first started, but a quick rev of the engine turns it off.

The engine shuts off immediately when the switch it ignition turned off. So no alternator feedback issues or sticking with the ignition switch.

The turn signals are working, but the passenger side is funky because of the taillight issue.

Power antenna is working. Goes up, and down with the switch. Is it supposed to go up when pushed in, and down when pulled out? Or is it supposed to be the opposite way? Easy to switch around the wires if needed.

Temp gauge is working, but appears to be reading colder than I had expected (1/3 mark) when the radiator top tank is hot to the touch. Does the resitance in the temp sender increase or decrease when hot? The sender is the original and was never replace or removed.

I cant tell if the fuel gauge is not reading, or the tank is just very low on gas. I will double check that tomorrow. Luckily I have two spare complete dash clusters if I need to swap anything out.

Also I am still missing the dome light and under-dash bulbs as I haven't found a modern 12v replacement bulb that will fit yet.

A few loose ends and small gremlins to fix, but generally I am extremely happy that everything is pretty much working as expected.