The woes of wire tucking...HELP!

[jdm_master_X]

So I got this car from a fellow member around July and have been rebuilding it ever since (http://nico.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=317628&page=2).

The past week I finally got everything done. Now I'm just puzzled by a few things, which I'm sure are pretty simple. I just want opinions, but I'm certain part of the problem has to do with my wire tucking.

One problem I am having is that my tail lights don't work when the headlights are on. Only one bulb on the left tail light works, but when I pump the brakes all of them illuminate.

Another problem I have is that my HUD is not working at all when I plug it in. When I reconnect my analog cluster, it lights up, but still no working temp or fuel gauge, or any idiot lights. No tach or speed readings on either of the clusters.

Maybe I got too carried away wire tucking the whole car that I cut unnecessary connectors that are in series with other important circuits.

If anybody can toss me their previous experience with similar problems, I'd be forever grateful. Plus I need to drive this car back to SoCal pretty soon. Your help is appreciated!

**EDIT**: I also forgot to mention that the turn signals don't work. Maybe all these problems have something in common. I was thinking maybe the SMJ?
Modified by jdm_master_X at 2:53 PM 2/3/2009

[amolao]

The illumination (lights) system in the car is somewhat complex, the cluster is part of it and a special component. Is your cluster a replacement ?? Sounds like...

If you can verify that your cluster works, not just the HUD part, then you need to back track all the wiring related to the headlight and taillight circuits. Try a regular analog cluster just to see if any changes...

[placham]

If I was you, I would check bulbs for tail lights, if one works than the rest might be burnt-out, swap bulbs and see what happens. If their okay maybe just run a piece of wire from one side to other and connect, who knows maybe the wire is cut/corroded for some reason.

As for cluster isn't there a fuse for gauge cluster, and secondly I would check the little white box, on driver side by your foot. It's behind the panel. I forgot what it's called. But mine cluster didn't light up(illuminate) I traced it to that "white box". It comes apart there is a circuit board inside. One of my "electric legs" was burnt. So I had to solder in a piece of wire in its place. Works ever since then with no problems.

This is where I would start looking first at least.

[jdm_master_X]

If I was you, I would check bulbs for tail lights, if one works than the rest might be burnt-out, swap bulbs and see what happens. If their okay maybe just run a piece of wire from one side to other and connect, who knows maybe the wire is cut/corroded for some reason.

As for cluster isn't there a fuse for gauge cluster, and secondly I would check the little white box, on driver side by your foot. It's behind the panel. I forgot what it's called. But mine cluster didn't light up(illuminate) I traced it to that "white box". It comes apart there is a circuit board inside. One of my "electric legs" was burnt. So I had to solder in a piece of wire in its place. Works ever since then with no problems.

This is where I would start looking first at least.

I verified that the bulbs are fine because as soon as I pump the brakes, all the lights illuminate.I'm opening the harness to inspect if all the wires are tied together since they operate in series.

The white box is operational because I am getting illumination with my analog cluster, but no balls with the digital cluster/HUD. speedo is sporadic, tach is inop, fuel and temp gauges are also inoperable. no idiot lights are working either.

The illumination (lights) system in the car is somewhat complex, the cluster is part of it and a special component. Is your cluster a replacement ?? Sounds like...

If you can verify that your cluster works, not just the HUD part, then you need to back track all the wiring related to the headlight and taillight circuits. Try a regular analog cluster just to see if any changes...

Well my cluster isn't exactly a replacement. I purchased the entire HUD system because a local windshield company sold me a HUD windshield. So I figured I might as well get the rest of it.

When I plug in the HUD/digital cluster, it doesn't even illuminate, nor does any of the outputs work. When I plug in my analog cluster, everything lights up properly, but oddly nothing in there works either. I've been using my analog cluster for years with no problems, and the digital cluster was in working condition when I pulled it from the coupe.

I'm studying the diagrams online as of right now. I'm getting somewhere with diagnosing the tail lights. So hopefully I'll have a solution for the cluster in a day or two.

[White Comet]

what all harness did you tuck? most of the normally tucked wires shouldnt really effect the cluster or tails.

[hungryjoseph]

do your dash lights also turn on with the rear tail lights when you tap the brakes? if so, it sounds like you put the bulbs back in the wrong order. there's 2 different bulbs in the rear, and when you misplace them, that is what happens. i can't really help you with your other issues

[jdm_master_X]

what all harness did you tuck? most of the normally tucked wires shouldnt really effect the cluster or tails.

well im running a gutted interior, so I decided to tuck the wires in the cabin as well, mostly at the back section where the tail lights and signals are. i tucked the harness in the engine bay but it was mostly engine/lower harness related items.

on the back side of the car i removed the rear side markers for the brakes (since the hole for the lights were welded shut. the third brake light on the hatch was also removed. the rear speakers, antenna, hatch defrost were also removed since i had no use for them. i cut the connectors off since there was no use for them. my reasoning for cutting them was because the rear sections share a common grounding point, but have independent power wires.

do your dash lights also turn on with the rear tail lights when you tap the brakes? if so, it sounds like you put the bulbs back in the wrong order. there's 2 different bulbs in the rear, and when you misplace them, that is what happens. i can't really help you with your other issues

the bulbs were never removed during the process of swapping over the tail lights or during wire tucking the rear. with the analog cluster connected, it's illuminated whether or not i pump the brake pedal. when the digital cluster is connected, it's not lit up whether the pedal is pumped or not.

there are two things that the tail lights and signals have in common:**Super Multiple Junction****Headlight switch**

Looking at the diagram, the red/lavender wires command illumination of the car. from the back, connects to the SMJ, then goes to the front. the illumination switch splices into the same circuit. i might swap it out for another working one to check if it works.

Maybe it might have something to do with the SMJ, since the problem circuits all junction there.

[Cone Junky]

The tailight filaments and brake light filaments are seperate circuits in the same bulb. So just because your brake lights work, doesn't mean your tailights work.

[jdm_master_X]

yea definitely. checking the bulbs, the same bulb still illuminates, regardless of what bulbs are switched and/or tested. the licence plate lamp is also inactive. im checking the circuit right now.

[MeanGreenS13]

did you seem my response to you in the Q45 ignitor thread i have?

[Mthompson240sx]

i know this is a month old but i recently got my redtop swap running after months of chasing ghosts. now seems like im haveing the same problem except all my lights work when supposed to and even my cluster lights up but the cluster gauges are inop. when i start the car u can see rpm needle jump then fall to zero even when car is running.... im thinking maybe wiring or sumthing is crossed.. but if so then why does the tach jump when the car first turns over?? anyone encounter this before?

[sebazztard]

year and a month old....