Pinto Car Club of America

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Gaslight on May 12, 2006, 07:51:20 AM

Title: Electrical question
Post by: Gaslight on May 12, 2006, 07:51:20 AM
On my 74 I had the glove box out and noticed an electrical box right above it with a ton of wires coming out of it.  Anyone know what it does?

Jake
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: goodolboydws on May 12, 2006, 09:51:51 AM
If you're not having an electrical problem, carefully replace the glove box and leave it alone.
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: Gaslight on May 12, 2006, 10:03:29 AM
That bad huh?

Jake
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: Mornblade on May 14, 2006, 05:52:20 AM
Now I'm curious as well.  Especially seeing as how I'm going to be switching to a custom wiring harness.
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: goodolboydws on May 16, 2006, 11:58:55 AM
Nothing "bad" about the wiring that is there, it just doesn't make a lot of sense to play around with old, stiff, frequently brittle wiring under the dash, unless you have to. These cars are in the neighborhood of 30 yeras old, and many things can suffer from that amount of age.

Sometimes the insulation on wires can actually be so brittle (like on a car that has never had an owner who was regularly using a sunshade to protect the dash), that the insulation cracks when it is handled, making shorts, broken connectors, wires pulling out of connectors, etc., much more likely.

If I remember correctly, there is a fairly substantial bundle or a group of wires from the main wiring harness running past the glove box, (containing wires for several different circuits) but I may be thinking of my old Mustang.
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: Mornblade on May 16, 2006, 01:50:55 PM
That IS a very good thing to keep in mind.  You are right, the insulation on those wires can possibly be very brittle, and could cause problems.

But it still doesn't answer the question.

What is the box with lots of wires coming out of it that exists above the glove box in the 1974 Pinto?  What does that box do/control?
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: Gaslight on May 16, 2006, 02:38:54 PM
This may end up being a question I take to my grave!

Jake
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: 77turbopinto on May 16, 2006, 02:56:07 PM
Maybe it is an alarm or remote start??

Bill
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: Gaslight on May 16, 2006, 02:59:41 PM
Well I did see in the factory brochure that an alarm was available in 74.  But I would not even begin to know how to tell if I got it.  This is not an aftermarket unit.  Its a factory Ford part worked right into the harness.

Jake
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: 77turbopinto on May 16, 2006, 07:52:41 PM
Flux capacitor?? 

No, wait... it is the wrong car for that, BUT looking in my garage is like being in a time machine.

Bill
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: turbopinto72 on May 17, 2006, 09:35:03 AM
Quote from: 77turbopinto on May 16, 2006, 07:52:41 PM
Flux capacitor?? 

No, wait... it is the wrong car for that, BUT looking in my garage is like being in a time machine.

Bill

:text_yb_lol: :text_yb_lol:
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: dirt track demon on May 18, 2006, 12:40:14 AM
I believe it is a relay that has something to do with the seat belts.  I had a pinto that the seatbelts wouldn't retract until the door opened and the electrical clicking noise associated with it came from the area where that box is. 
  But I could be wrong. 
   
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: oldkayaker on May 23, 2006, 05:06:25 PM
I took a look in a 1974 shop manual and it shows a wiring harness going over the glove box plus the following items located above it: key buzzer, turn signal flasher, hazard flasher, and a seat belt warning buzzer and light.

I agree, do not disturb unless needed.
Title: Re: Electrical question
Post by: Gaslight on May 23, 2006, 05:16:00 PM
Jerry,

  Thanks much.  So treat it like poison!

Jake