John S Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 On my 1970 Monte when I hit the brakes the lights momentarily dim. I’ve noticed that on other cars that I have owned from the 1970s. The alternator is new a 63 amp alternator rewired for internal regulator. Also, all of the grounds are good. I have braided wire from the engine to the firewall in two places, the firewall to the frame in two places, and the radiator support to the frame. My question and wondering what your thoughts are on this. I was thinking of replacing the wire from the positive terminal to the terminal block, the alternator to the four splice, and the terminal block to the four splice connection with 8 gauge wire. I’m thinking larger gauge wire more capacity. I thought years ago, I read a post where someone did this You think that might help? John S Quote
jft69z Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 Is everything else on the car basically stock, no EFI, electric fuel pump, large stereo system, etc?, Typically it's a 10 gage wire from the factory, with fusible links in there at places, which are usually 4 sizes smaller (resulting in a 14 gage wire, in effect). 1 Quote
John S Posted March 25, 2024 Author Posted March 25, 2024 47 minutes ago, jft69z said: Is everything else on the car basically stock, no EFI, electric fuel pump, large stereo system, etc?, Typically it's a 10 gage wire from the factory, with fusible links in there at places, which are usually 4 sizes smaller (resulting in a 14 gage wire, in effect). Everything is stock I want to upgrade the stereo. I put a new positive battery cable on. Don’t know if those wires or fusible links that are on there are reliable. I do know that 10 gauge wire requires 14 gauge fusible link. Thomas (MC 1 of 80) told me in a post That he usually replaces that wire off the positive cable with a direct wire since he says he’s had problems with them. I’m always looking to improve things. Sometimes I do the unnecessary, but it keeps me busy. I’m always trying to build a better mouse trap as long as it doesn’t turn into trying to reinvent the wheel. 3 Quote
stangeba Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 Way overboard question but does or did you vehicle ever have a trailer wire harness added? I have seen what it can do to the lights.... Another question, do all the brake light / turn signals work and are all the same brightness? I saw a guy used an 1156 bulb where an 1157 dual filament bulb was needed. This caused some big problems. Totally off subject but fun story, I think. A customer pulled in to the Ford dealership where I was a service advisor with a pick up saying his brake lights keep blowing fuses. I took a look and he did have a trailer harness with a plug in, covered, connector. The cover was open and the socket was packed full of SNOW!!! Good times back in 1973. 3 Quote
John S Posted March 25, 2024 Author Posted March 25, 2024 No, it doesn’t have a trailer harness. Sometimes I try to apply More’s law too many times if enough is good, more is better and too much is just about right. My 2006 Monte has larger gauge wires coming off the alternator and for power feeds. Of course there’s more draw on a newer car, higher amperage and other things. The wiring harness is original on my 1970 was just thinking about upgrading a couple of the power wires and if I did, I thought I would go up one gauge wire size. I didn’t know if it would be worthwhile to do it or not. Quote
jft69z Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 Depends on the quality of your 50 year old wires too. If they're internally corroded, that would lead to higher resistance etc. It wouldn't hurt to increase the wire size as you're considering, but you may be disappointed if the results don't help as much as you're hoping. 1 Quote
jft69z Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 I swear...FB is always listening and watching. We're talking electrical, and this just popped up on there...😄 This popped up right after it...this is getting scary now 🤨 "Breaker Finder" 😄 5 Quote
John S Posted March 25, 2024 Author Posted March 25, 2024 48 minutes ago, jft69z said: I swear...FB is always listening and watching. We're talking electrical, and this just popped up on there...😄 This popped up right after it...this is getting scary now 🤨 "Breaker Finder" 😄 Well, it will work. 2 Quote
Dtret Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 16 hours ago, jft69z said: I swear...FB is always listening and watching. We're talking electrical, and this just popped up on there...😄 This popped up right after it...this is getting scary now 🤨 "Breaker Finder" 😄 Most everyone knows what I do for my job. Believe it or not this is not an uncommon thing. A guy tried to warranty a battery because the terminal was crushed into the case. He told the dealer the cable wouldn’t fit so he was hitting it with a hammer to get it on. The plastic cover was still on the terminal. Some people. 3 1 Quote
Rob Peters Posted March 25, 2024 Posted March 25, 2024 Not sure about 71 and 72 but the 70 ca.e from the factory with a wire that was part of the negative battery cable clamp that attached to a hole in the passenger fender. One time I had an issue of flickering and dimming lights. I found that wire to be broken and after I repaired that wire my flicker and dimming disappeared. rob 5 Quote
John S Posted March 26, 2024 Author Posted March 26, 2024 4 hours ago, Rob Peters said: Not sure about 71 and 72 but the 70 ca.e from the factory with a wire that was part of the negative battery cable clamp that attached to a hole in the passenger fender. One time I had an issue of flickering and dimming lights. I found that wire to be broken and after I repaired that wire my flicker and dimming disappeared. rob Already checked that out it’s OK but yes that can cause problems. 1 Quote
John S Posted March 26, 2024 Author Posted March 26, 2024 13 hours ago, Dtret said: Most everyone knows what I do for my job. Believe it or not this is not an uncommon thing. A guy tried to warranty a battery because the terminal was crushed into the case. He told the dealer the cable wouldn’t fit so he was hitting it with a hammer to get it on. The plastic cover was still on the terminal. Some people. They live amongst us and they are multiplying. 1 3 Quote
Scott S. Posted March 26, 2024 Posted March 26, 2024 On 3/25/2024 at 10:19 AM, jft69z said: I swear...FB is always listening and watching. We're talking electrical, and this just popped up on there...😄 This popped up right after it...this is getting scary now 🤨 "Breaker Finder" 😄 Don't laugh..... I've actually had to defer to this method a couple times to figure out what powered what in my house. I guess the electricians who did the original wiring had a sense of humour ??? Quote
jft69z Posted March 26, 2024 Posted March 26, 2024 20 minutes ago, Scott S. said: Don't laugh..... I've actually had to defer to this method a couple times to figure out what powered what in my house. I guess the electricians who did the original wiring had a sense of humour ??? Or they were trying to split the load on a circuit to different rooms (example: rooms with a common interior wall between them may share outlets, etc). If you put one complete room on a breaker, there's a better chance of popping it maybe. It does make it harder to find the right breaker though. I made a map of my house with all the circuits, outlets, switches, and what breaker they were tied to fairly soon after I moved in, as we did some rewiring, added 3-way switches, added some circuits. 2 Quote
Scott S. Posted March 27, 2024 Posted March 27, 2024 21 hours ago, jft69z said: Or they were trying to split the load on a circuit to different rooms (example: rooms with a common interior wall between them may share outlets, etc). If you put one complete room on a breaker, there's a better chance of popping it maybe. It does make it harder to find the right breaker though. I made a map of my house with all the circuits, outlets, switches, and what breaker they were tied to fairly soon after I moved in, as we did some rewiring, added 3-way switches, added some circuits. Same here..... I guess that makes sense, but sharing a breaker between the kitchen and the basement bathroom was a bit of a head scratch. Quote
Marks71 Posted March 27, 2024 Posted March 27, 2024 Joes post on the circuit IQ got me searching. Picked this up yesterday. 4 Quote
jft69z Posted March 27, 2024 Posted March 27, 2024 1 hour ago, Marks71 said: Joes post on the circuit IQ got me searching. Picked this up yesterday. Cheater, 😁... 1 1 Quote
willie Posted March 27, 2024 Posted March 27, 2024 LOL I was always afraid of getting one of those tools Mark, as i am not sure if i want to know the answer!! LOl if it hasn't burnt down in 40 years, it will be fine is my guess!!! LOL 1 1 Quote
Dtret Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 Take the outlet cover off , short the screws on the side, recover and go find out what doesn’t work. I used that method for years. Hmmm. Does explain a few things?!? lol. 1 4 Quote
420ponies Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 Yup, still remember you're black eye. What was that from again? I wondered if you saw dancing bananas !! Quote
420ponies Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 You should have seen me 2 weeks ago. To get clearance for a shock / strut I had a 4 ' pry bar ( MAC of course) and (2) 90 lb tractor weights hanging on the end of it. I was thinking about if someone came across me about 5 ' from the truck I was working on, What was he thinking😃😃 1 1 Quote
Scott S. Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 I've had those experiences.... LOL When I was about 3 years old, I discovered my uncle's uninsulated cutting pliers...... So while sitting on a floor vent, I proceeded to cut the cord to his radio. They found me on the other side of the room, a** smoking..... Guess it was pretty funny at the time.... 1 2 Quote
kpcsgasp Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 Once they find out you're OK then it becomes hilarious. 2 Quote
Scott S. Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 Parenting was a whole different ballgame back then..... And strangely enough, we did survive. LOL 3 Quote
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