Technical I need to hire an electrican...

[unkamort]

who will come to my home and sort out this wiring problem. I am not asking for free help. I have somewhere around 80 hours into this with no result. I live in San Francisco. Any leads to someone in this area that could actually fix this would be appreciated.

[carcrazyjohn]

House wiring or car,Be more specific,,,,

[shinysideup]

Electricians in your phone book.

[unkamort]

automotive

[carcrazyjohn]

what type of car ,,,,,,

[unkamort]

Originally Posted by carcrazyjohn

what type of car ,,,,,,

1938 Ford truck, modified

[hinklejd]

Too far away to swing by and help, but what's your problem? We may be able to assist, even from a distance.

Basic stuff to check - make sure the ground is good. Make sure the battery is charged. Make sure the polarity (+ and -) is correct. Past that, just give specifics as to what is not working correctly.

[unkamort]

[QUOTE=hinklejd;7595672]Too far away to swing by and help, but what's your problem? We may be able to assist, even from a distance.



There is really no sense in dragging this through the mud here again. There is a problem with this wiring harness and I can't find it. I was on the phone with the manufacture all after noon. At the end of the day I had smoke from the head light switch, which hadn't happened before. The only alternative I can see at this point is to rip the thing out and go with another manufacture. I'm not going to make any comments about the product, because I can't figure out what the real problem is.

[Cutlassboy68]

I do a couple of full wiring harnesses a year, shoot me a pm about the brand, i can probably help you out... To start with, 6 volt/12 volt, what motor, 1 wire/2 wire alternator, or generator? Some companies cross up wires in certain places, and to my knowledge there is no such thing as a plug and play wiring harness (despite what they all say).

Like i said feel free to shoot me a pm and we can talk specifics about brand an not unintentionally bash anyone...

[F&J]

Wish I was nearby. It maybe takes me longer, but I can usually get it figured out...most times

I get where you are at....done.... from dead ends.

smoke from H/L switch.

All i can say without seeing the lighting fuse circuits... I would have to be looking at wrong wiring to the headlights? On most older cars, headlight sealed beams were not on conventional fuses; they were only protected from burned wires, due to a crash, by the fusible link inside the H/L switch.

If there are no helpers from local hambers, and if you know there are no fuses on the headlights themselves, I'd look at the headlight socket wire pattern.

[SAM123]

Dang 'mon you are in the Bay Area, some of the smartest car folks on the west coast are at your door step .... your asking for a recommendation when the answer is as close as your phone. Shouldnt have any problem getting your problem solved considering the location.

I'd help if I was closer.

[The37Kid]

Sorry, this is like a train wreck across the street, I can't not look it it. My can may never get wires. Bob

[F&J]

Originally Posted by The37Kid

Sorry, this is like a train wreck across the street, I can't not look it it. My can may never get wires. Bob

Tough night, eh Bob? 2 different burned car threads, plus a smoking headlight switch thread, all on page one..

[lango]

I know how frustrating it can be. Sometimes you just have to turn out the lights and go do something else for a while. Or a day or two. Or longer. Clear your head- change the subject, etc. It's probably something real simple.
Good luck- most of us have been there or somewhere like it.

[tex1935]

I live in san jose , if you live close by i should be able to help. Steve tex1935

[Kerrynzl]

[QUOTE=unkamort;7595698]

Originally Posted by hinklejd

Too far away to swing by and help, but what's your problem? We may be able to assist, even from a distance.



There is really no sense in dragging this through the mud here again. There is a problem with this wiring harness and I can't find it. I was on the phone with the manufacture all after noon. At the end of the day I had smoke from the head light switch, which hadn't happened before. The only alternative I can see at this point is to rip the thing out and go with another manufacture. I'm not going to make any comments about the product, because I can't figure out what the real problem is.

First thing you always do with DIY Wiring is Disconnect the ground cable, and use an old headlight with 2 alligator clips as a substitute ground cable.
If there is a dead short in the harness or what-ever the light will glow instead of the whole loom "glowing"
Electricity is easy if you can "see it" ,so buy a cheap multimeter and learn to use it.

[bobss396]

How many circuits does the harness have? You really have to trace them one by one. I like the idea of something fusible between the ground and battery myself. I've made something up in a pinch with an old fuse block before. That'll pop before something else does, or does again.

There has to be a dead short somewhere. You should have gotten a schematic with the harness. Time to hone up on your test light & schematic reading skills! Hppefully there is someone close by that can take a look at it, nothing like fresh eyes on a problem.

Bob

[swade41]

If I was only closer, I just put that same harness in the J. Someone needs to get over there and help him out, he needs to get that truck on the road !

[hinklejd]

When the smoke came out, there's a good chance that you cooked the switch. Time for a new switch, no matter what you decide to do next.

But the fact that the smoke came out does tell a couple important things - first, the battery is good. Second, power is making to the switch. When the smoke comes out, that's an indication that you lack a proper load in the electrical system. Since this is a lighting circuit, I would imagine that there is a wiring issue around the headlight somewhere - likely at the wiring connections in the back of the bulb.

[The37Kid]

If this was a house fire and a 2x4 was smoking, I'd replace it, what would most people do with a melted wire?