Hi, 64 Spyder bought running but with incomplete electrics. Rear tail and indicator lights work but no front lights and only one indicator.No dashboard lights although the fuel gauge seems ok and the ignition light flashes momentarily when switched on. ( Po fitted led lamps)

Wipers don't work or the tach. Is there something common to all the above which is giving me grief, I think the grounds are all ok. I have a 64 wiring diagram which I'm trying to follow.

Finally where does the 3 wire cable from the heater control fit into or should there be something on the end?

Thanks

Britcorvair Wrote:

> Finally where does the 3 wire cable from the heater control fit into or should there be something on the end?
>
> Thanks


Onto the spade terminals on the right hand defroster duct? That's the resistor that gives the blower motor 3 speeds.

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'61 700 Lakewood 110 4 speed
'69 Monza Convert. 140 Auto.
'70 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 4 speed

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Quote
Britcorvair
and the ignition light flashes momentarily when switched on.

We don't have an ignition light. What letters are on the bezel/lens?

Quote

Wipers don't work

Wiper motor gets +12 volts from the fuse box. The motor is NOT grounded to the firewall, it is grounded through the wiper switch. Check for +12 volts at the connectors on the wiper motor (ignition on, wiper switch on OR off, doesn't matter).

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

Not to step on your toes Frank - BUT yes the wiper motor housing is grounded to the firewall by one "special" grommet.

Without the firewall to motor case ground the wiper PARK function would not work - or the wipers would stop as soon as the wiper switch was turned off without the case ground.

A set of points in the wiper motor gear box grounds the motor to the case (and firewall) UNTIL the gear cam opens the points at the wiper arm PARK position.

It was the park function that required +12VDC at the motor, but the wiper switch and PARK points to ground make the wiper motor run. Those clever DELCO engineers.

Oh, yes, that park function!

Let me re-phrase, since I forgot the park,

The motor is grounded through the wiper switch for normal operation. Normal being low and high speed. The motor IS grounded through the firewall to make the park function work.

Thanks for the correction, 66.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

Thanks everyone for the input. As the tail lights come on when switched presumably the headlights would also if on same circuit unless there's a break somewhere, all fuses are ok.
Also ( as I'm new to Corvairs) what do the two white levers in the convertible top area do? The power top motor and rams are not connected.

Britcorvair wrote: " As the tail lights come on when switched presumably the headlights would also if on same circuit unless there's a break somewhere, all fuses are ok."

Craig replies: While headlights and tail lights are controlled by the same switch, they are supplied by different power sources.

Headlight power is "direct battery" and the circuit is protected by a 15 amp circuit breaker built into the headlight switch.

Tail light power, also controlled by the headlight switch, is supplied by a fused circuit from the fuse panel.

Craig N. Coeur d'Alene ID.
66 Black Monza 4dr, 4.2L V8 49k
61 Seamist Jade Rampside 140 PG
60 Monza coupe (sold, sniff sniff)
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+17 Tons of parts

cnicol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Britcorvair wrote: " As the tail lights come on when switched presumably the headlights would also if on same circuit unless there's a break somewhere, all fuses are ok."
>
> Craig replies: While headlights and tail lights are controlled by the same switch, they are supplied by different power sources.
>
> Headlight power is "direct battery" and the circuit is protected by a 15 amp circuit breaker built into the headlight switch.
>
> Tail light power, also controlled by the headlight switch, is supplied by a fused circuit from the fuse panel.

Correct. Also the output from the headlights switch must go THROUGH the dimmer switch to the headlamps. The dimmer can get wet (in cars driven in the snow/wet) and the terminals corrode and NO headlights. Note if the front "parking" lights don't work then I'd suspect the headlight switch or connector.

If you car's generator was replaced with an alternator, then a LED will NOT work in the GEN/FAN socket.

Are the "pin-outs" for the 2-speed washer-wiper plugs listed somewhere? I need to make a couple of mods. Which pin does what?

Seth Emerson

Check my new Performance Corvair Web site [www.perfvair.com]

Is the circuit breaker in the main light switch accessable if it's tripped out?

No...auto reset!

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Thanks all, I'll have another go at it tomorrow

Britcorvair Wrote:
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> Is the circuit breaker in the main light switch accessable if it's tripped out?

It's a "Thermal Breaker" and closes when it cools off". Typically it opens for about 1/2 to 1 second. In the OLD days that was thought to be safer vs. no lights if a fuse blew. However -- it's a LOOOONG time on a dark country road at 50MPH.

The Euro cars use a better approach - fuse headlight(s) on each side separately so only one goes out if a fuse blows. I wire up my Vair headlights with relays and a separated fused circuit for each side.

Britcorvair Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks everyone for the input. As the tail lights come on when switched presumably the headlights would also if on same circuit unless there's a break somewhere, all fuses are ok.
> Also ( as I'm new to Corvairs) what do the two white levers in the convertible top area do? The power top motor and rams are not connected.


Those sound like you are describing "Top Catches", but I thought they were only used on Manual Tops.
What do they look like?

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WA. state, 1 mile south of the Canadian border, I am not at the end of the world, but you can see it from here.

Thanks, I think mine has been fitted with a manual top although it has the power top switch and has the pump and rams loose in a box.

Thanks, I found the heater resister which was mounted on what looks like laminated cardboard which is disintegrated. I guess the resister will get hot so what should I use to re resite it?

Britcorvair Wrote:
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> Thanks, I found the heater resister which was mounted on what looks like laminated cardboard which is disintegrated. I guess the resister will get hot so what should I use to re resite it?

get a used resistor block and replace it properly is my suggestion. It certainly will get hot and must be isolated from anything that high temps would hurt.

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I have personally performed ground up restoration on over 20 Corvairs.
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Final hurdle is the wiper motor (I think) Fitted with 2 speed motor and push button screen wash , motor type E. I did get one sweep out of it when I inadvertently pressed the screen wash button whilst under the dash board but since nothing.
I've cleaned the contacts inside the switch and the switch has good ground to the dashboard.

When I turn the switch on I hear what sounds like a relay closing in the motor and when turned off after about 4 seconds the relay sound can be heard again. . I've cleaned all 5 conections on the motor. Unfortunately my electrical diagram doesn't show the wiper motor.

Any ideas would be appreciated.( Thanks everyone the previous gremlins are sorted)

The click should be the washer solenoid pulling in the lever. This should also start the motor turning. Have someone tap the motor casing while the switch is on. If this makes it work then the brushes are not seating probably from wear.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA