Darkness

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BrianF

Member
Hi Gang
Had three days of swimming in the lakes of Maine this past week end. On the way home at 10pm on Saturday night I hit the dimmer switch on the floor and everything shut off. Pitch black and that burning electrical smell. I shut off light switch on dash and car started up. I had running lights but no headlights. I pulled over and waited for a passing car and followed it 7 miles to my side street. Put on directional light and had enough light to make it home. Car ran great all "day" Sunday. I never even looked at the problem because I need info on what to look for. I'm very afraid of "Lucas" and yes there was Darkness.
Any ideas on what it might be?
Thanks in advance
Brian
 
Once upon a time (2002 or so) I had a similar instance on my '64 "MetalBeast". I don't recall now whether it was the incorrect switch or just orientation, but turned out that after reassembly, the clutch pedal arm would short out against the headlight dimmer switch connectiion under the firewall floorboard. Good luck
 
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Hi
Its been a year and a half and I still have not fixed dimmer switch. Turns out the wires are cooked and a mess too. So now I am looking for someone familiar with wiring old cars in the Boston area. All the auto shops I worked with over the last 50 years are closed.

Scott at Gordens has the color coded wire and I know how to cut, strip, connect wires. However I'm not comfortable with the whole "system" if ya know what I mean.

Don't want to get in over my head and have nowhere to turn if I mess it up.

Thanks in advance for any leads
Brian
 
At yes, Lucas. Prince of darkness, inventor of the intermittent wiper. But in fairness, as Larry explained, Lucas might not be to blame if something shorted out.
With help from the wiring diagram replacing the wires shouldn’t be that difficult. Wire size matters, not color. Buy wire and connectors from an auto parts store so you’re working with automotive quality. Replace one wire at a time to prevent mix-ups. Hopefully the wires aren’t melted in the main harness. All wires should be fuse protected to prevent melting so check all the fuses for correct current ratings.
A proper terminal crimper makes for quality crimps to prevent loose connections and electrical problems down the road. If using a cheap hardware store type crimper it would be better to solder the wires to the terminals and cover with heat shrink tubing. Some people are quick to say never solder terminals but if there’s little to no flex at the joint it makes for a solid electrical connection. Anyway, good luck with the repair.
 
Hi
Thanks for the responses. My question is where can I find a auto shop that rewires old cars in the Boston area? I do not like working on auto electrical or wiring. Im dealing with a short circuit and do not know how to find it/trouble shoot it. Yes wire is fried and melted up inside harness. Wiring is 62 years old. Wiring is a burned up mess and runs up under gas tank.

So I repeat that I'm looking for a auto wiring shop in the Boston area. I don't want any problems down the road, or out on the water especially.

Now if I don't find a shop in the next few weeks then I will change course and start thinking and asking questions on doing the job myself.

I can replace wires and have a home auto shop with a toolbox full of auto electrical stuff. I just don't want to get in over my head and have nowhere to turn.

Thanks
Brian
 
Brian.. bring your car down to Florida for a visit this January and I will help you get your car rewired, We had to do Herbs last winter.

then Leave it down for the mid florida swim in in March.

Fully retired GORD...
 
Hi Gord
Nice hearing from you. And thanks for the offer. Sounds like a great Idea and I appreciate it. However Im looking for help in the Boston area. I am going to speak to a former retired mechanic next week and see if he can come to my shop and help out. All the auto shops I have dealt with my whole life, including his shop have closed up and I don't think the Sullivan tire, or muffler shop crowd have the skill to work on old cars.
Glad your enjoying Florida, will keep you posted on my search.
Thanks again
Brian
 
Hi
Follow up report. During summer of 2023 I had the short to the headlights and only used the car during the day. Last year, 2024, used it again only during the day, while searching for a shop to do the repair. I had lots of offers to "help" or "I could give it a try". I couldn't find a shop that was capable and willing to rewire the car. So I started getting referrals and found a guy that worked for a auto electric shop that had closed up. He was running his own shop now doing general auto repair. He agreed to "get to it right away" and rewire the dimmer switch and clean up the burnt mess. 5 weeks later he never touched it and it was clear he didn't want to do the job. Charged me $200 for pulling/replacing the tank.

I have worked with a young guy that installs car starters and stereos and all that. His shop is a mess but he is really good at what he does, he agreed to rewire it. "Few days at most" he says "I'm jumping on it right away" . I drop it off and It turns into a three week circus and is all messed up. I beg him to call someone in the club or one of our venders and he refused. I showed him the wiring diagram/schematic, and he ignored it. so I had to work along side him for a few hours to straighten out all the connections and tell him what went where. Once he figured out the connections he sent me home so he could finish up. Picked it up in the afternoon and it wouldn't start. We spent another hour playing with the gas tank on/off valve and got it going. $1400 later the two year wait for the repair job was finished.

All said and done he did a great job. I got car home in Quincy MA and the next day took it back up to Maine on the lake where the car is ready for the summer, and the star of the 4th of July parade.

I wish I knew more about the electronics on these cars but I'm more of a nuts and bolts guy and have my limits. So one more time "can anyone recommend a shop that can wire these amphicars" for future reference.

Thanks
Brian
 
BrianF said:
Hi
Its been a year and a half and I still have not fixed dimmer switch. Turns out the wires are cooked and a mess too. So now I am looking for someone familiar with wiring old cars in the Boston area. All the auto shops I worked with over the last 50 years are closed.

Scott at Gordens has the color coded wire and I know how to cut, strip, connect wires. However I'm not comfortable with the whole "system" if ya know what I mean.

Don't want to get in over my head and have nowhere to turn if I mess it up.

Thanks in advance for any leads
Brian
Click to expand...
@BrianF I know it is after the fact, but if you ever need to look into the wiring MAKE SURE you have John Bevin's excellent large color wiring diagram. He spent weeks re-doing the awful ones that are out there and it is first class. It is on the Club web site, if you are a member. (You ARE, aren't you?)
John was an excellent resource and Amphicar expert who passed away a couple of years ago but his contributions will live on!

Are you coming to Celina this month?

Ralph
 
Hi Ralph
Yes John Bevens did a great job on the wiring diagram. I looked around and could not find it. Could someone let me know how I can get a copy of Bevens diagram. As mentioned I finally got my car fixed and I am using it. At some point I would like to rewire the whole car. Parts of the harness are patched up and repaired. So I'm still on the hunt for a complete harness and someone to install it.

I have been a member for twenty years, paid dues yesterday, and enjoy the club.

Not going to Celina. I have a summer home in Bridgton Maine in the lakes region and plan on spending our time there this summer.

Thanks
Brian
 
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