minimum electrical

[sdsurf]

Hey guys,

What is the minimum electrical i need to check my system (lights, wipers, etc.)? I have positive to starter, fuse box and battery and negative to alt and engine head.

 

anything else?

[ggzilla]

You need negative to body, as well as to engine. My Datsun came with a cable that went to both, but other may have a thick ground strap from engine to body/frame.

 

On the positive side, aside from the start, everything should go through a fusible link as insurance against fires or at least prvent melting the harnss.

 

What do you mean by "minimum electrical?

[sdsurf]

i put a battery in and have grounded hooked up except to ground to the body. ANd no lights or anything. I will try a ground to the body

[banzai510(hainz)]

ck wires goi into the fuse block and wiggle the fuses around or replace. Its usually corrossion. My 521 has this proplem all the time, I assume it smy pressure washing the motor alot and wtaer get on the wires near and in the fuse box..

 

ck those screw teminals also mayeb loosen them up then retighten.

[sdsurf]

got it! I grounded the engine to the body and got a new battery. seems my right taillight and left brake light are out. I will check the bulbs. Also, all headlights... Is there a way to check the relay?

[ggzilla]

Check the fusebox. Use a voltmeter. With headlights on the headlight fuse should have be 12V to ground on both sides of the fuse.

 

My 1972 Datsun has no headlight relay so I'm not familiar with how to test that. But they generally don't go bad.