Trying to trouble shoot my turn signals. They were working aside from one corner indicating a bad lamp. But now, the fuse blows and the signals don't work at all (nor do the hazards). I could use a high resolution file of the wiring diagram. I am kinda guessing at this point. I really...really...stink at electric trouble shooting. Any help would be huge.

 

Got the turns working. Still need the diagram Please. I need to wire up the back up lights to the center console (it's a shift on the column car).

Thanks!

 

Welcome.
A shift on the column car with a console?
Or a former shift on the column car with a console w/shifter now?

The reverse light and neutral safety switch is still on the lower column and there should be linkage from the trans shift lever to the steering column that controls the reverse lights and neutral safety switch, also acts as an interlock to the shifter so it locks with the steering column lock.
If I'm wrong somebody will let you know, it's been known to happen.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-question.html

If you want to see wiring diagrams register at Wild About Cars then go to the downloads section and they're in the '71 service manual, it should be pretty much the same as '72.

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/index.html

 

Thanks for the serv. manual link! Huge help in wrapping my mind around what is where. Now I have a good look at the guts. I got all the blinkers and hazzards working great, but somthing is causing the fuse to blow. Going to follow the diagnostic flow in the manual and see if I can hunt it all down.

Column car that is now floor shift. Floor shift has ZERO wiring to it, so it is not an issue. On a side note... trying to identify the following lead. What the heck does this go to?:

photo72.jpg

 

That is for the downshift switch used on TH400 tranny cars (at gas pedal). For TH350 trannies, it is not used - it just hangs there. A cable is used for downshift.

 

Thanks!! On to reverse lights.....

 

Ok. Screw reverse lights. Don't need them here in Texas to pass. Just switched them for the time I need them.

On to turn signal woes...

When I bought the car The front right signal did not work (this is where all this BS started). I pulled the front bulb(s) and they looked good. I cleaned them up, cleaned the sockets and put them back in. Everything worked fine...then blamo. Out went the fuse. Mind you I drove the car 220 miles home with the signals working (not teh front right) and fuse not blowing. I replaced all the flashers, checked all the grounds, inspected the switch; All look good. I pulled the switch harness where it connects to the column. The brown/dk blue wires were obviously melted at the connector and inside the plastic separating the two was melted (these are the wires for the front right signal bulbs).

I disconnected the front right bulbs (marker and park/signal). The system does not blow the fuse, hazards and signals work. Here is the catch: With the front right bulbs not in place the right turn signal indicator still lights and clicks as if everything was okay. Should the right signal indicator in the dash light to a constant on and not cycle on and off if the bulbs are out?

What could have caused the wires in the harness to melt?

 

Excessive current will cause melted wires.
Check the wiring for pinches, hacks (like from alarms, etc) or other visible damage like from rodents.

It is also possible either the bulb was installed wrong, or the wrong bulb installed, or there is rust in the socket that is causing a short.
Check both the parking light (#1157), and the side marker light (#194) for correctness as both blink.
I have seen people put 120V appliance (vacuum/sewing machine) lightbulbs in cars before, just because the bases look the same... I doubt this is your problem though since you drove it home okay.