What is causing your problem is the extra load on the headlight and dimmer switches, as well as the entire wiring system from those new halogen bulbs you installed. In general, even stock type sealed beam replacement halogen bulbs will draw a bit more current than their older incandescent style counterparts. If you get into some of the brighter type H-4 systems, that current draw will be even higher. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: halogen, headlight, relay, short, switch
Customers often ask why there is a need to change the horn relay when converting a 1958-62 Chevrolet Fullsize and Nova car from the stock generator to an internally regulated alternator. The reason is that on a car equipped with a generator, the “battery” terminal on the voltage regulator served as the main battery power distribution block. When that regulator is removed and the car is converted from a generator to an internally regulated alternator, we loose that distribution point. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: battery, chevrolet, chevy, impala, nova, power, relay, volt
The orange electric fan wire in question is a 12v keyed ignition source. Please refer to instruction sheet 500668 / Engine / sheet #3 / front light wiring / electric fan.
There has been discussion over this circuit being keyed or constant power (fans running after vehicle off).
Following the lead of GM’s decision in the early 80’s, American Autowire chose to run this as a keyed circuit, for safety reasons.
Tags: 1969, 69, camaro, fan, wire, wiring
1964-66 Mustang Classic Update kit
American Autowire is proud to announce the arrival of the 1964-1966 Ford Mustang Classic Update Series wiring kit.
Classic Update Kits give you one of the most complete kits on the market to “Make Wiring THAT Easy”. They are designed for a specific year, make, and model configuration. The 1964-66 Mustang kit boasts 19 features and makes it the most complete system of its type in the industry:
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Tags: 1964, 1965, 1966, 64, 65, 66, harness, kit, mustang, wire, wiring
American Autowire introduces the Nostalgia Series kit. This exciting new kit is designed for the builder/owner who is assembling a retro-styled street rod such as a Highboy or any other open hood styled car where the engine compartment is exposed for all to see.
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Tags: harness, hot, hot rod, kit, retro, rod, street, street rod, wiring
American Autowire proudly announces the release of our newest Classic Update Series wiring kit: the 1970-72 Chevelle! This kit is built in the tradition of all our Classic Update Series wiring kits. The 1970-1972 Chevelle kit boasts 19 features making it the most complete system of its type in the industry including:
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In 1969 and 1970, Pontiac used 2 unique ignition switches, one for tilt and one for non-tilt. The other divisions also had 2, tilt and non tilt as well. The Pontiacs were unique in that they were different than all other GM lines as they had 1 extra blade on them. The Pontiacs all had an extra cavity in the clear connector at the switch and that extra blade on which to plug that cavity. It is the resistor bypass circuit and must be used or the car will not start in most instances. That particular blade sends a 12v signal to the coil when cranking the car. The pink ignition circuit plays to the coil through a resistance wire and only delivers about 9 volts to the coil which will generally not be enough voltage to start the car. The car runs on between 9.0 and 9.6 fine, but needs 12-14 to start. Unfortunately, the Pontiacs used a starter without a bypass circuit and took their bypass feed directly off the ignition switch. The dash harnesses in these cars are wired accordingly. You MUST use that yellow wire, and have a switch for that wire to plug onto or the car most likely will not start. Once in a great while, an engine will spin freely enough that once you get the engine turning over and release the key, it may catch and start, but that is an extreme exception, not the rule.
In conclusion, you will need to find a PONTIAC ONLY, TILT ignition switch to bolt onto this column, or the column will be useless in your car. The Pontiac non-tilt switch will not work on a tilt column either. Unfortunately, neither of those switches are commercially available any longer either. The switches listed and sold in many repro catalogs are really for a Chevy, Olds, Buick, etc. application and as such, DO NOT have the extra blade needed in the Pontiac application and will NOT WORK with a Pontiac dash harness and electrical system. Most likely, the only way to get one of the correct switches, is to find a good used or NOS one.
Tags: 1969, 1970, 69, 70, ignition, pontiac, starter, switch
