Alright, this winter after getting my wagon, I noticed when it was cold out and I fist started the car, my fuel gauge, wipers, turn signal and heater would not work. It would take 5-10 minuted for the car to warm up before everything started working. Was rather annoying! Esp. when around here, you tend to need to defrost the windshield. Kinda hard to do that until you drive down the road to warm it up! LOL. I thought it might be condensation on the wires. I took and put electric grease on the connections under the hood. However, the problem persisted. Well, now its getting warmer, I dont have those problems. LOL. However, the other day I opened my door and went to get out and got spooked. The car started buzzing at me! It has NEVER done that before! It did not do it afterwards until this afternoon. So now that I know there is a key in ignition buzzer, I am wondering if I might have loose wires under the dash or a funky fuse block or something. Has anyone ever exsperienced this before? If so, please chime in. I would love to try to figure this out before next winter! Starting work Monday, so wont have much time to trouble shoot things and have the car ready to drive the next day for a while! Thanks.
Surprise! They all have a common feed: black/light green wire coming out of the ignition switch (thru a splice). Also the heated rear window & windshield washer (fuse 4) and the alternator warning light.
Check carefully. If no faults found, I'd guess that it's the ignition switch.
Mike
Note: data from the 1977 Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual but I don't think that wiring changed that much year-to-year.
Alright. Well, two bulbs dont work in the gauge cluster, but I assume they are burnt out. The alternator lamp and seat belt lamp do work. But... I did not think to check my 77 Pinto wiring and vacuum book! LOL. Yeah, I should check the common wire and at the ignition. Thinking that, making me wonder if its not a worn out connection maybe or something of that nature? HMMMMM................
Jody I had a similar experience in my 80. I was going to the
UFO Superswap in Columbus, It was cold; 8-10 degrees & my
new Auto Meter tachometer was not working. As the temp inside
the car rose the tach started working. This was a completely new
install of all gauges. I have no idea what happened.
Just a side note I owned 2 different 1971 Mavericks that when
the temp got below 15-18 degrees the horns would start blowing.
This was unerving at 3 am. So I would unconnect the horns
in the winter. I never did find out why this happend, Woooooo!
Good luck I hope you find it Dick
WOW! I would have been cussing for some time until I woke up enough to realize it was my horns if it had happened to me! LOL. I hope that does not happen! LOL. Yes, I hope I can figure it out at least on the wipers and heater before next winter! LOL. Thanks.
When the ign switch (the electrical part on the column under the dash) gets some wear on it sometimes will not spring back to the run position from the start position when you let go of the key when engine is first started. You can replace the switch and fix the problem. When the switch is not completly in the run position some or all of the accessories will not work. Hope this helps.
So, if this could be the case, can I wiggle the switch with the key to make them work, even if just a test? Just starting my new job next week and I have to catch up on a months worth of bills. Then I have a order to place with a couple of fellas on here! LOL. My list is getting bigger!!
If it's that worn you would probably just have to replace it. They are cheap enough that you should be able to get a new one fairly easily.
Quote from: postalpony on March 17, 2011, 05:31:15 PM
Jody I had a similar experience in my 80. I was going to the
UFO Superswap in Columbus, It was cold; 8-10 degrees & my
new Auto Meter tachometer was not working. As the temp inside
the car rose the tach started working. This was a completely new
install of all gauges. I have no idea what happened.
Just a side note I owned 2 different 1971 Mavericks that when
the temp got below 15-18 degrees the horns would start blowing.
This was unerving at 3 am. So I would unconnect the horns
in the winter. I never did find out why this happend, Woooooo!
Good luck I hope you find it Dick
My Pinto horn does that too!
Dwayne :smile:
Quote from: tinkerman73 on March 17, 2011, 07:22:59 PM
So, if this could be the case, can I wiggle the switch with the key to make them work, even if just a test? Just starting my new job next week and I have to catch up on a months worth of bills. Then I have a order to place with a couple of fellas on here! LOL. My list is getting bigger!!
Jody,
Congratulations on the new job!!!
Dwayne :smile:
Sounds like the ignition switch to me. My 78 has a sticky ignition when it's below freezing outside. I can start the car, but if the key doesn't return to the run position completely, I know something is wrong when the radio doesn't come on, I just rotate the ignition back a little until I feel resistance and leave it, then everything works!
I'm always paranoid when this happens and worried I might burn out my ignition solenoid or starter, wondering it power is still being fed to those units when the key sticks in start.
Dwayne, thank you very much!
A question for yall then. If I replace the ignition switch, can I get locks that match? Or is that not a option? I really would like to keep them all the same! LOL. Otherwise I would get frustrated every time trying to use the wrong key! ROFLMBO!! Thanks.
The ignition switch is located on top of the steering column. It is seperate from the lock cylinder, so you don't have to worry about that.
WOOHOO! LOL. Thats good to know for sure! No wonder I like these earlier cars! LOL. The only way I could find a better piece to work on would be if I could ever build me a 29 Ford closed cab! LOL. But... I know I will have fun in t5he long run with this lil beasty! I keep thinking turbo though? When I got it I was thinking 409 or a nice fire powered 492! But now, the 2.3 turbo is getting my fancy! Think about it, Pinturbo! LOL. Some subtle body line changes and get new glass in the rear to make it one long glass. Add to the curves of the wheel wells. etc.etc.etc. LOL> But whoa, lets slow down. I gotta bunch of little things to fix and replace first to make sure she stays a reliable driver first! Thats main priority! LOL. Ill check into the ignition switch and see if the local car quest can get it! Thanks.