My Willys 3A and 3B Community

TECH FAQ SECTIONS => Electrical Systems => Topic started by: tow hook on September 15, 2021, 02:02:49 PM

Title: spartan turn signal pilot light ground
Post by: tow hook on September 15, 2021, 02:02:49 PM
my indicator  bulb isn't working on the turn signal unit, it says that it grounds thought the housing.... but were ?

 i've removed paint on the column and the column clamp, no luck. i cleaned up ( aka sanded ) the metal the the bulb holders goes to. and sanded the arm below it. the jeep has a new walcks harness, and the spartan unit came from mid west willys any help would be great. thx

p.s. i'm not a wiring kinda guy

https://www.mywillyspics.com/image/jEQ02
https://www.mywillyspics.com/image/jtZPg


https://www.mywillyspics.com/image/jtWO6
Title: Re: spartan turn signal pilot light ground
Post by: Rus Curtis on September 15, 2021, 04:43:40 PM
If it were me, I'd approach this like an "unkown" tail light.  Using jumper cables (with either contact tips or alligator clips on the ends), I'd test the bulb - straight off the battery.  Then I'd insert the bulb and using a known ground connected directly to the socket and to a bolt or screw, test the light when the switch is on.

Keep moving down-stream on the ground until it stops working and you should find the bad ground. This can also be done with a multi-meter.


I'd done all this on my turn signals and found it to be a bad ground.  On my turn signal, I ended up running another wire (for ground) from inside the case all the way down the wiring harness to a good connection under the dash.
Title: Re: spartan turn signal pilot light ground
Post by: tow hook on September 20, 2021, 11:20:44 AM
If it were me, I'd approach this like an "unkown" tail light.  Using jumper cables (with either contact tips or alligator clips on the ends), I'd test the bulb - straight off the battery.  Then I'd insert the bulb and using a known ground connected directly to the socket and to a bolt or screw, test the light when the switch is on.

Keep moving down-stream on the ground until it stops working and you should find the bad ground. This can also be done with a multi-meter.


I'd done all this on my turn signals and found it to be a bad ground.  On my turn signal, I ended up running another wire (for ground) from inside the case all the way down the wiring harness to a good connection under the dash.

 thanks :)
Title: Re: spartan turn signal pilot light ground
Post by: tow hook on September 24, 2021, 02:51:49 PM
 i got some tips how to use a multi meter.  so i tested the power wire going up the column, tested good. so i ran a ground wire from the the screw ( in the rear ) that holds the guts in place down the column to a ground and bam she blinks !  yee ha.. now to finish that speedo
Title: Re: spartan turn signal pilot light ground
Post by: Rus Curtis on September 24, 2021, 05:33:48 PM
Nice! 
Title: Re: spartan turn signal pilot light ground
Post by: tow hook on October 03, 2021, 02:15:47 PM
Yep , the small items are getting narrowed down. She isn’t pretty but hope to be driving it soon