Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

[Glen C.]

I've found that a previous owner wrapped 2 fuses with foil (I'm kicking myself for not spotting this pre-purchase). I've never done much on the electrical front. Is this something that is best handled by a professional or is there a way I can use a test meter to trace down and repair any issues to get rid of the foil? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Glen

[Paul Y.]

Re: Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

When you replace them with the proper fuse does it blow?

[Jim S.]

Re: Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

That little trick could just mean he was too cheap to buy new fuses, or out on the road and made an emergency repair he never got around to fixing.

As Glen asked and suggested , replace with a new fuses. Then see if he did it because he was cheap, or to quick fix a more serious problem.

[Larry M.]

Re: Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

When you replace them with the proper fuse does it blow?

Agree. Make sure that you check the Owners Manual and/or fuse block to ensure that you go back in with the correct size fuse. Previous owner many of had to use a smaller fuse size (amps) for an emergency repair and wrapped with foil to help boost the current capacity.

What circuits are they on??

Larry

[Domenic T.]

Re: Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

Glen,
All the advice is great, but after you replace the fuses, if it blows again, then take a look at that circuit. Sometimes there is wire that rubbed thru the insulation and you can find it yourself.

At least the fuse panel tells you where to look.

DOM

[Glen C.]

Re: Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

Larry,

I didn't consider the possibility of an emergency repair -I just assumed that something was wrong that caused someone to jump the fuse. I'll get the correct fuses and try to just replace them and see what happens. The two circuits are the 5 amp fuse for the instrument lamps and the 10 amp fuse for the gauges. I know that the guy I bought it from had removed an aftermarket radio that was in the car and mounted a correct radio but had not managed to get it to operate (another upcoming project) but I'm not sure the installation of the aftermarket radio would have required jerry rigging of these two particular fuses. I just want to avoid starting a fire.

Thanks,

Glen

[Patrick H.]

Re: Electrical Advice Needed on a 1972

I just want to avoid starting a fire.

Thanks,

Glen

Then disconnect the battery first.
Remove the Bubba fix, insert correct fuses, reconnect battery.

Whatever you do, the correct fuses have got to be better and safer than what is there now.