Sounds like you have pulled a wire off the "input " side of the fuses.
Drop the light switch, and check for power on the "input side" of the switch
. If you got power, ok.
If no power, Unhook the battery, and run a continuitity
check from the fuse block to the light switch.
If memory is not failing me, I believe white wires are ground, and black
wires are power.
jim.K
It sounds like your wiring system is a mess(remember,these cars were
engineered to last about 10 years,not 40)
When I first got my 56 Transtar on the road,everything electrical was sorta
working,so I knew the wires must all at least be in the right places.But
then the signal lights would go out,come back,then no tailights,then they'd
start working again.One night I was coming home from a "Cruise to the Mall"
and hit the dimmer switch.Instantly I smelled something burning,and
"POP",every damn light on the truck went out as smoke billowed up from under
the floor(And you know what Gord Richmond says about smoke getting out of
your wires(G).
At this point Id had enough,if I was ever going to be able to drive the damn
thing anywhere without fear of eletrical gremlins,there was only one thing
to do.I completely rewired the whole truck,back to front.
What I found as I was doing it scarred the sh.t out of me,long sections of
bare wire were the old cloth insulation had fallen off,sometimes in sections
a foot long.Its a wonder I hadn't already burnt the truck to the ground.
So after replacing EVERY wire,I just made up my own harness as I went
along,Ive never had a glitch since.
I suspect your in the same boat.My Hawk,which has only partly been rewired
creeps me out sometimes,the dome light works some of the time but not
always,the dash lights have to have the switch in just the right spot for
them to work etc.
Im thinking shes next.You can't have any confidence in your car when you
know you have old rotten wires in the system.
Fortunately,a Stude with only the most basic accessorys is a pretty simple
system to work on.
Down load that diagram,get yourself a magnifying glass,a bunch of new
wire,and have at it.
Good luck.
> Sounds like you have pulled a wire off the "input " side of the fuses.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>> fuses I am missing? I was hopeing to go to a meet this weekend but no
>> lights no wipers no go. help. Rich
N8N - 09 Sep 2005 15:03 GMT
The factory harness in my '55 had partially burned up when I got it,
but when I took it out and cut it up it was actually in pretty good
shape other than the burned bits (all related to the heater/defroster)
the vinyl covered wire seems to hold up a lot better than the cloth.
Now if the vinyl has been exposed to the sun... (car parked with hood
open) it is probably toast as well.
nate
> It sounds like your wiring system is a mess(remember,these cars were
> engineered to last about 10 years,not 40)
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
> >> fuses I am missing? I was hopeing to go to a meet this weekend but no
> >> lights no wipers no go. help. Rich
N8N - 09 Sep 2005 15:03 GMT
The factory harness in my '55 had partially burned up when I got it,
but when I took it out and cut it up it was actually in pretty good
shape other than the burned bits (all related to the heater/defroster)
the vinyl covered wire seems to hold up a lot better than the cloth.
Now if the vinyl has been exposed to the sun... (car parked with hood
open) it is probably toast as well.
nate
> It sounds like your wiring system is a mess(remember,these cars were
> engineered to last about 10 years,not 40)
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
> >> fuses I am missing? I was hopeing to go to a meet this weekend but no
> >> lights no wipers no go. help. Rich
Jeff DeWitt - 12 Sep 2005 02:22 GMT
So your 56 still had the fabric and rubber insulation? I'd be very
worried about driving a vehicle with that kind of wiring that was
original, the vinyl insulation seems to hold up MUCH better.
Anyone know what year Stude switched from rubber and fabric insulation
to vinyl?
Jeff DeWitt
> It sounds like your wiring system is a mess(remember,these cars were
> engineered to last about 10 years,not 40)
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
>>>fuses I am missing? I was hopeing to go to a meet this weekend but no
>>>lights no wipers no go. help. Rich