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Help - electrical problem
  • dougc_portland
    Posts: 286Gold Member
    I am hooking up the under-dash wires on my 54 Special. Everything works fine EXCEPT for the dam oil pressure light. The only way it will come on is if I touch the bulb holder with a ground wire. The ONLY way. I have tried grounding the dash area around it, running a ground wire to the dash studs, everything. It simply won't work. Where the bulb holder snaps into the dash has been cleaned thoroughly. It's neighbor the amp gauge light works fine. What is going on here? Are the Hudson Gods punishing me for some past transgression?

    Thanks for any words of wisdom you can provide.

    Doug
  • hornet53hornet53
    Posts: 414Platinum Member
    Maybe the bulb isn't making good contact with the socket once it's in position?
    Electrical tape over outside of the light?

    Hey, if the light ain't on, the pressure must be good, right?
    1953 Hornet sedan Twin-H
    Custom front springs, drop-blocks out back, Clifford 6-2 headers exiting out back shotgun style, Pertronix, and Flames!

    1964 Chevy C-10 Longbed, 396/TH400 lowered just enough and \"easy to touch up\" Black paint.

    2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
    Caved in quarter and fender. Bad paint. Non-True-Trac heap. But it's paid for.
  • Geoff C., N.Z.Geoff C., N.Z.
    Posts: 2,273Platinum Member
    The oil light is supplied with voltage from the ignition switch, and grounded through the pressure switch in the engine block, not the bulb holder. Have you tried running a wire from the switch contact to ground. It sounds to me like the switch is faulty.
    If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.
  • Chipmaker
    Posts: 24Greasemonkey
    I had that happen 1 time on a mopar.Some one had wraped the sender switch with teflon?tape to keep it from leaking and it (the tape)prevented the switch from grounding to the block.
  • dougc_portland
    Posts: 286Gold Member
    Chipmaker, that may be the problem. I did wrap the fittings on the sender unit with teflon tape. Never occurred to me that would interfer with the grounding. Thanks for the feedback.

    Doug
  • SuperDaveSuperDave
    Posts: 2,414Platinum Member
    If it's like the earlier models, there are two wires that go to the socket. 6 volts from the ignition switch and the other one goes to the oil pressure switch on the engine. So there is voltage present all the time the ignition is on and the ground is suppied by the switch. Have fun, that 54 is a Bxxxh to work under the dash..
  • Geoff C., N.Z.Geoff C., N.Z.
    Posts: 2,273Platinum Member
    Teflon tape is for plumbing, not automotive use. It softens when exposed to gasoline or oil. Throw it away.
    If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.
  • dougc_portland
    Posts: 286Gold Member
    Thanks to everyone who responded. The problem turned out to be a faulty switch. Since it was new new out of the box I never suspected that was the problem. Goes to show ya.

    Thanks again,
    Doug
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