I looked at the wire schematic and it is a clear as mud to me. I do see the what fuse affects the console lamps, clock lamp and heater lamp but have no idea what color wire the schematic is referring to. I am trying to tap into a wire to illuminate my tachometer. I have an aftermarket A/C mounted underneath the dash so getting visibility on any of the wires is difficult at best.

I do have good access around the fuse box area. Are there any wires I can splice into in this area?? For example the blue, green and brown wire that go down from the bottom of the fuse box.

I got everything else hooked up this my only sticking point.

d1

 

I went through a firewall hole and there is an unused hoodlight wire (I think)with the plug and everything (brown wire), I had the mate for the plug and plugged right into that , all gauge lights work great. I could not find a suitable easy acess wire under the dash, but if you have room find a hot when headlights are on and splice into that.
I just stick the probe from a test light right through the wire to see if it is hot.

 

Okay, I will check on the hood light wire. Thanks.

 

The wire is right behind the brake booster and sticks out of the factory harness about 2 " , it is just above the fuse block.

 

For the tach light, you want a dimmable dash light lead. Look for a grey wire behind the clock or at the fuel gage or speedo, or at the radio for its light leads.

The hood lamp wire will work, but it just won't dim. Not sure how important dimming is to ya...

 

Gray wire, check. Thanks for the heads up.

 

There is a grey illumination feed for the clock right behind the clock opening in the dash. With the clock blank plate out, just look or feel around for it. The wire will have a female single connector plug on it. The pigtail should be hanging from the main instrument panel harness.

 

Well, that is even easier. Thanks Joe. Now I just need to get a tach that works and I should be in business.

Thanks again.

d1

 

Okay, while attempting to find the gray wire Joe was talking about, I pulled out a group of wires that I am not sure where they go or do.

I am going to assume the gray wire is for illumination as I tested it with the ignition off and headlights on. It has a weird crooked male spade type connector that I have not seen.

There are 2 orange wires. The top one is a darker orange color and has a clear connector on the end.

And the other pig tail has a group of wires.

And finally there is a yellow wire that the PO scraped off the insulation about 2 inches down from the connector and wrapped the power wire for the radio around the exposed wire. Just another thing I have to correct. But I don't know where this wire is supposed to go either.

I found the group of wires tucked up and to the right of the clock delete area behind the dash. I could not see them but felt them. They were held tight against the dash by some sort of clip.

Maybe a few of these were for the stock radio and rally pack option and the gray one is for the illumination? Not 100% sure.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

d1

 

The single grey wire should be the dash illumination feed. The connector with the grey, orange, and white wires is the console feed for the optional console.

 

Sounds good. I got the lights on the gauges hooked up to grey wire and it is working like it is suppose to (coming on with the headlights, working with dimmer control).

Thanks for eliminating the multi-wire connector for me. So, I just got 3 wires left. (Yellow, Dark orange, Light Orange)

Edit: I found out the dark orange wire went to the back of the cigarette lighter. Not a very solid connection though. I might have to find a new connector...

I fixed the yellow wire and still tapped into it for the radio. After I hooked it up though, the radio only works when the ignition is on and not with Accessories. Is this normal for these year cars? Or do I need to be looking for an accessories wire of some sort?

Thanks again.

 

In 72 the radio would work in ACC position. I would think 71 would be the same, but not certain.
Does anything else work when you turn to ACC, like the wipers?

Here is what the wires are for:

 

I'll check tonight. Thanks for taking the time to label the wires. I'm sure it will help more than just me.

d1

 

Rob you are slick.

I used one of these cool add-a-terminal, it slips on the end of the glass fuse and has a terminal sticking out for a connector to go on. I used it on the power lead to the power for the satellite radio, coming off the radio fuse.

 

I sure was on saturday when I was covered in engine oil!
Everything I tried to pick up was getting away from me like a greased pig...