1966 Bright Red 361 Survivor

Gpuller · Dec 20, 2013

Yep, there are signs of life, that's good. Might be as easy as cleaning some grounds. Like Bob said the dash light problem could be the switch. The number for a BWD switch is S426, should be under $20.
My car has one headlight that hangs up once and a while, will stay shut while the other opens. If I give it a rap it works again for a while. My guess there is a connection in the motor that is bad. I have another motor to swap out.

Snowtrooper1966 · Dec 20, 2013

ODZKing said:
Well, hopefully both issues are easy to resolve. The headlamp (one open, one closed) sounds very much like a stuck micro switch. Your "tap" or handshke as you called it jarred it loose and viola. WD40 on all the switches and excersize of the bucket may resolve that.
As far as the EL, sounds like the power pack is working and that the on/off is the headlamp switch itself. They will develop a dead spot. Take it and rotate back and forth to see if the EL comes to life once again. If they do work in a "dimmer" position on the switch, that is your issue.
Otherwise, it could be as simple as a ground on the dash or power pack.
Let us know.
Bob

The dimmer works to turn on the courtesey console & rear sail lamps, but does not dim them. Hoping it is just as simple as replacing the switch...

A383Wing · Dec 20, 2013

leave the hold open switch in the down position when headlights are off, this will stop battery drain and potential fire in wiring

Snowtrooper1966 · Dec 21, 2013

A383Wing said:
leave the hold open switch in the down position when headlights are off, this will stop battery drain and potential fire in wiring

Yea, that's why I was kinda freaking out last night.....
But I finally did sus that out yesterday.
Thanks for the heads up!

Snowtrooper1966 · Dec 22, 2013

Passenger side rotating now, so I know the motor is good, but seems to be stopping short of full rotation:

tallhair · Dec 22, 2013

Congrats on getting her running and on the road again. I know you are having a great time now

ODZKing · Dec 22, 2013

OK, is the motor stopping or does it continue to run when it stops rotating? You can see where I am getting at here. There are bolts that go through the support above and below. Someone may have replaced one with a bolt that is too long and it is hanging up. There is very little clearance there.
IF the motor is stopping sounds like you still have a hung up limit switch.

Snowtrooper1966 · Dec 22, 2013

Sounds like pass side is hitting something.
Guess I just need to disassemble and go through it.....
Have to search for a 1st gen headlight r&r

A383Wing · Dec 22, 2013

service manual would be yer best friend here...all instructions, and trouble shooting info is in there....I have them on CD here if interested

Snowtrooper1966 · Dec 22, 2013

tallhair said:
Congrats on getting her running and on the road again. I know you are having a great time now

You know it, brother!
Its been pretty amazing, seeing stuff come to life as she's being loved and cared for. So many folks just stopping and saying how much they dig the Charger. Way more than I recall when I had MoPars in the '80's.

Was sitting outside @ Starbucks before work today, some cat rolled by in a truck asking if that was my MoPar, giving a nod of approval after I replied yes.
Moments later a classic retomod 50's pickup rolled by with a thumbs up.

It was strangely profound, and my realization of just how fortunate I am to be back in a muscle car left me a bit chocked up as I was sitting there admiring the Charger....

Snowtrooper1966 · Jan 7, 2014

Poking around under my dash looking to see how hard it will be to replace the headlamp switch.
Found and removed this:

Wonder if this has anything to do with my minor wiring issues? :angry1:
Sweet Radio Shack alarm system....

Snowtrooper1966 · Jan 19, 2014

Dash woke up again last night. Now I'm sure its the headlight switch. Came on when I rotated the dimmer function. Remained lit for 1/2 hour drive home and was working still this AM.
Now I just need to get under there and install the new switch I bought....

I thought the radio was EL as well. It was not lit, and if it's part of the EL chain, how would the others be working if it's not illuminating? I have factory AM/FM unit if that makes any difference.

Anyone have a pic of the entire EL system light up?
Thanks...

Gpuller · Jan 20, 2014

Nice! you have a clock. Your radio could be unplugged, there is a white wire that feeds the EL lighting. Maybe somebody figured out that the radio was the reason everything else wasn't working.

Snowtrooper1966 · Jan 20, 2014

The radio currently is operational. Is there a secondary lead for the radio EL?

Gpuller · Jan 20, 2014

Yes there is a white wire with red connector that feeds the EL in the radio.
Be careful that white wire packs a punch! ha ha ha

ODZKing · Jan 20, 2014

Trooper, if you don't have A/C, you should have an extra white/red end under there somewhere. Other wise, disconnect the battery, let the power pack discharge for a day or so and make a Y adapter or splice the wire. I would seriously consider using white heavy gauge wire to be consistent.
On second thought, you have a 66 and the PRND12 shifter is also EL in 66. So you already have a white wire under the console. Tap off that or make a Y as I stated.

Snowtrooper1966 · Feb 2, 2014

[video=youtube_share;28nHh-WeTUM]http://youtu.be/28nHh-WeTUM[/video]

- - - Updated - - -

So it turns out the top bolt for the motor on the passenger side bucket was backed out almost completely. There was a ton of side to side movement, allowing the limit stop on the bucket to hit the motor mount bracket. Disassembled the bucket motor bracket, pulled the entire bucket assembly out. Snugged up the two motor bolts, reassembled, and voila, rotating headlights!

Sorry for the crap image quality, buddy shot vid with his old iPhone 4...

696pack · Mar 26, 2014

Snowtrooper1966 said:
Dash woke up again last night. Now I'm sure its the headlight switch. Came on when I rotated the dimmer function. Remained lit for 1/2 hour drive home and was working still this AM.
Now I just need to get under there and install the new switch I bought....

View attachment 163732

View attachment 163733

I thought the radio was EL as well. It was not lit, and if it's part of the EL chain, how would the others be working if it's not illuminating? I have factory AM/FM unit if that makes any difference.

Anyone have a pic of the entire EL system light up?
Thanks...

Yes, the radio should be EL as well, however they did not offer an AM/FM for B body in 1966 so it is likely a transplant from a C body that of course would no be an EL radio.

Coyoteduster · Mar 26, 2014

Nice! A guy in our car club has a '66 Hemi Charger (Black on Black) that he had in High School, sold, and then found some 20 years later. Love the interior in these old Chargers!

Snowtrooper1966 · Mar 26, 2014

I hear ya.
The interior was one of the reasons I was attracted to 1st gen Chargers. That, and the fact they are way undervalued vs comparable B's...
Only way I could get back into a diving MoPar on my budget.

1966 Bright Red 361 Survivor

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