Help with cut wire, temp gauge and distributor

[darom]

Hi guys,

I went through the wiring diagram a few times and need your input.

a. 1976 280z - I studied the wiring diagram for 1976 and it looks like a lot of wires' colors are wrong coded. I am trying to determine what the cut wire is in Picture1. I am assuming this 6 wire plug is for the whole engine harness? On my car's diagram I can't find the Green with Red stripe wire (BE-94).

b. My water temp/oil pressure/voltage gauges don't work. The water temp gauge goes to maximum indicator position. The FSM suggests ignition relay, voltage regulator and bridging the thermal transmitter's yellow wire to see if the gauge's needle fluctuates. I checked the continuity off the thermal transmitter's contact (yellow wire) and it is grounded. Is it supposed to be grounded? (BE-34 diagram shows ignition relay that grounds it via black wire). Logically it shouldn't. Hence bringing the yellow wire per FSM is pointless.

c. I found a pair of Green and Red wires (2 pairs) at the junction block next to the externally mounted distributor coil. One pair used to lay on top of the a/c compressor and is completely melted. The other pair goes into the wiring loom headed back to the car's cabin. I guess since the car is without the points distributor, I don't need this pair of Green, Red wires? Can I cut this pair off the distributor? Picture2.

d. How often do voltage regulators go bad?

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Den

[69firebird]

The red/blue wire in pic one is for the wiper bottle flude to the fuse box inside runs to wiper slot for fuse. I have looked for the two green wires oround the compresser but theonly green pair I found woodbe the pair for the tempature switch which should run on top of the fule rail. Steve

[darom]

69firebird, thanks for checking it - that would explain why my windshield wiper doesn't work.

Can you please tell me if you have a pair of wires going to your distributor (red/green)? Is your car a later model or points?

Also, would you please check the continuity from the thermal sender (water neck) to the chassis ground (engine off)? Mine shows that it is grounded.

And the last one - from the oil sender post to the chassis?

I appreciate your help!

Den

[darom]

Here is another weird thing:

Engine is off. When I trace (voltmeter set on Ohm) the oil pressure gauge sender's wire (Yellow with black stripe) from the gauge itself to the passenger side junction block (C-5 green), it shows ok. However, if I unplug the pass. side wiring engine harness (page BE-3, diagram BE594A) plug and try to check continuity with it in the engine bay, I am getting all 6 wires showing continuity with the Yellow/w Black wire inside the cabin! That's the plug in Picture 1. WTH?

Thanks,

Den

[darom]

Update: after fixing the burnt 2 red/green wires laying on top of the a/c compressor, my oil pressure gauge doesn't peg out any more (good news). The bad news the gauges still don't work, haha.

Can I run a direct wire from the oil pressure sending unit and connect it directly to the yellow with black stripe lead on the back of the oil gauge itself? And do the same for the water temp wire? These sending wires are not fused anywhere, right?

Thanks!