Dash Bulbs - We've covered this before...

[7277]

I guess that would help hold worn bulbholders but they ground through the wiring not the housing.

sblake: donesn't the teeny copper tab on the plastic-snaps (bulb harness socket) ground to the tach housing metal? the + energizes the bulb at the tip (obviously) and isn't the grounding perfomed on the bulbs' socket, touching the copper tab, then touching the tach housing...

[sblake01]

No, because I can put power to the plug, pull the socket from the housing and the bulb stays lit. If anything, the housing serves as a redundant ground.

[7277]

No, because I can put power to the plug, pull the socket from the housing and the bulb stays lit. If anything, the housing serves as a redundant ground.

Ah yes. you're right. otherwise there would only be one (+) wire to the socket.... forgot there were two wires there. thanks.

and come to think of it, i did have them lit with the tach out of the car when testing. my lights flickered upon 1st attempt at installation and during the first covert-night-operations-test-drive . i then wadded the bulbs and copper tab with tin foil for a tighter fit. problem solved. at that time i thought it wouuld enhance the 'redundant' ground.

you-da-man!

Edited November 13, 2008 by 7277

[soundmasterg]

Hmmm...some of the bulbs will light without being plugged in so they are not touching the back housing of the gauges. Others won't light without being plugged in. I assumed that the ones that lit were designed to do that and the ones that weren't were supposed to be grounding through the metal back of the gauge, but perhaps I have some bad ground wires somewhere? It wouldn't surprise me as the car sat 20 years and had rats chewing on things at times. I'll have to take a closer look to see what I can find once the rain stops. Wish I could fit the car in the garage............

Greg