Yep Tom, I guess you are right here, I will compare the resistance from to outer casing to both the contacts (which should be obviously infinete..) with the resistance measured on a new one. Thanks again for all your help!, Robert Op Ma, 23 oktober, 2006 5:31 pm, schreef tom higgins: > If you go back and compare the resistance from the outer casing to both > the contacts on each of the bulbs, both old and new, I bet you will find > a difference. The metaphorical light bulb just went on at least in my > brain: by running the hot in to one of those bottom bulb contacts and > grounding the other via the yellow switched wire, they can mount the > fixture to the metal with no problem. Unless of course you have a bulb > with some corrosion or moisture built up in its base that forms a high > resistance path from the "out" side to ground. The result would be a > softly glowing bulb with the door closed. I doubt the dark glass on your > magic one means anything other than carbon buildup from the edison > effect. The real problem is between the brass casing and where the tiny > wires exit through epoxy to the contact points. > > rob van der Es <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Hi Paul and all the > others on the IML who had given me advice on this subject, > > > I have found it!!! > And you never believed the cause... (and no-one mentioned it :) > I have checked the insulation of all the yellow wires in the dome light > circuit, and they were OK. I have cleaned the fuses and the contacts in the > fusebox, no result. > > Sighhh...When I looked at the bulb I noticed that the glass was rather > dark, so I guessed that it would fail in a short time. Tired of puzzling to > find the solution of my half power Dome light I decided to put a new one > in and look further another day. > > Guess what..With the new bulb the problem was gone!!! > I couldn't believe my eyes, all this work and checking wires at hard to > reach places was done for nothing!!! To be sure I put back the old bulb, > and yes the dome light stayed on at half power. Put the new bulb back, and > everything was fine!! > > And no, the two contacts on the bulb are not connected to the housing of > the bulb, I checked that too!! > > I have no idea what is wrong with that old bulb, but I am glad that I > cured the problem!! > > Thanks anyone for the input and help, > > > Robert > 1960 Crown > > > > > > > > > Op Vr, 20 oktober, 2006 4:31 pm, schreef randalpark@xxxxxxx: > >> Keep looking. You'll figure it out! >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> Sent: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 2:54 AM >> Subject: Re: IML: Dome Light On Half Power W/O Switches Closed >> >> >> >> >> Hi Paul (and all the others that have helped me so far ofcourse!), >> >> >> >> I have checked out the bulb and bulbholder last night, cause it sounded >> to good to be true that the poor insulation of the housing was giving >> trouble. And unfortunately for me, the bulb is a double contact one so >> it doesn't matter that the housing of the bulb is grounded. Unless there >> is an internal shortage in the bulb, I will check that out too. >> >> Thanks, >> >> >> >> Robert >> >> >> >> >> Op Do, 19 oktober, 2006 5:22 pm, schreef : >> >> >>> I could be wrong, but I believe that this is a single contact bulb >>> with the socket acting as ground. Therefore, the housing should be >>> grounded to the body, and would not be insulated from it. >>> >>> Paul W. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> Sent: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 2:29 AM >>> Subject: Re: IML: Dome Light On Half Power W/O Switches Closed >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Yes Paul, >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Thanks again and too bad indeed that you don't live around here :) >>> Maybe you have read another interesting post about this subject in the >>> meantime, stating that the insulation of the fixture itself maybe at >>> fault here! I never realised but the fixture must be ofcourse >>> insulated from the body, otherwise there would be a permanent >>> connection to ground! That is, if one of the contacts of the bulb is >>> also connected to the metal housing of the bulb. I don't know if that >>> is the case with American >>> bulbs, overhere in Europe we use bulbs with one central contact and >>> the housing is the other contact. >>> >>> It would be interesting however to find the source of all this >>> trouble and ofcourse I will keep y'all updated! >>> >>> Thanks for all your help, >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Robert >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Op Wo, 18 oktober, 2006 10:19 pm, schreef randalpark@xxxxxxx: >>> >>> >>> >>>> I read another reply to this earlier concerning a '63 Imperial and >>>> an 8 >>>> track player. The poster mentioned his dome light did this due to a >>>> problem with a fuse, and also that the mounting for the player was >>>> changed to be away from the fuse panel. I think that the mounting >>>> of the player was actually the problem and that somehow the hard >>>> ware or the player came into contact with something in the fuse >>>> panel, causing a short circuit. A bad fuse doesn't cause a short, >>>> but rather an open. >>>> >>>> I don't know where the short in this car might be. It would seem >>>> from the discussion about the '63 mentioned above, and the story >>>> that I wrote about my 1948 Lincoln Continental, that the short could >>>> be (and probably is) quite unrelated to the specific wiring to the >>>> dome light. This light is mounted to the body of the car. A short >>>> elsewhere in the body (even under the hood, in a door jamb, or in >>>> the steering column) might somehow complete the dome light circuit, >>>> causing it to light up even though the switches have not been >>>> activated. It is not a good circuit, or even the correct one, but a >>>> completed circuit it must be. >>>> >>>> I am not an electrical engineer, but I can speak from experience. A >>>> light burning at half power without closing any switches means >>>> that there is a short. The wiper system has its own protections, so >>>> I >>>> think that if your wiper problem was caused by a short, it would >>>> blow a fuse or kick the breaker to the parking mechanism, and not >>>> remain shorted allowing something like this to occur. Possibly there >>>> could be some body wiring that has shorted. That can only be found >>>> by inspecting the insulation on everything. I would suggest that if >>>> there is a short in the body someplace, it could effect the >>>> performance of everything, enough to make things act strangely or >>>> not at all, even the wipers. >>>> >>>> If all the switches are open, and the light is on, the circuit has >>>> somehow been completed. I can't really help find it because I am not >>>> there. Possibly another poster has had the dome light come on at >>>> half power for some reason. If so, maybe they will pipe up. >>>> >>>> Paul W. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> Sent: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 6:50 AM >>>> Subject: Re: IML: Dome Light On Half Power W/O Switches Closed >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> OK Paul, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks for your very clear explanation (as always!) Here is the >>>> situation and my opinion (please correct me if I am wrong..): There >>>> is a purple wire running through the dome light, this is the >>>> positive 12 volt wire that is going to the bulb. To complete the >>>> circuit (and make the domelight working) we need a ground. This >>>> ground is supplied by a couple of yellow wires, 2 of them are coming >>>> from the rear door switches and one is coming from the manual switch >>>> in the headliner. >>>> >>>> Even with these 3 wires disconnected from their switches, the light >>>> still shines at half power or so. >>>> >>>> So something is providing ground to this circuit.. Richard Burgess >>>> was so kind to point me at two connection points were those yellow >>>> wires come togehter, one is at the left rear wheel well and the >>>> other is under the headliner close to the manual switch. >>>> >>>> I couldn't find anything wrong with the connection point at the >>>> rear wheel well so I guess the yellow wiring under the headliner is >>>> at fault here? Maybe this connection point is grounded somehow?? >>>> >>>> >>>> Strangely enough when I remove the bulb, to prevent that my battery >>>> is running flat, and place it back after a couple of days >>>> everything seems to be normal again. The light only comes on then >>>> when a backdoor is openend or the manual switch is operated, but >>>> after half an hour or so the bulb is shining continuously again at >>>> half power.. >>>> >>>> Talking about electric gremlins!! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Any thoughts, anyone....??? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks again, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Robert >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Op Wo, 18 oktober, 2006 1:37 pm, schreef randalpark@xxxxxxx: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> I really think that this dome light issue is related to some kind >>>>> of an electrical short circuit. It has been explained that this >>>>> light comes on even if the doors and light switch are not >>>>> activated. That >>>>> means that the circuit is being completed someplace else. It has >>>>> to be, or the light can't work. I know it sounds wierd, but this >>>>> short might not be in the wiring to the light itself. >>>>> >>>>> A simliar situation in my '48 Lincoln Continental resulted from a >>>>> grounded wire under the dash. In this case, the dome light >>>>> became brighter as I increased the engine RPMs. At one point, it >>>>> would go out until the RPMs fell back down to that level. I >>>>> haven't mentioned this previously because the car is six volt >>>>> positive ground. Nonetheless, it takes a completed circuit to make >>>>> the light come on. Once I found the short, the light functioned >>>>> normally, and so did the rest of the car. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Paul W. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> Sent: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 1:30 AM >>>>> Subject: Re: IML: Progress of a sort on the '60 LeCrown >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi John, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks a lot for your kind suggestion! >>>>> I will check the fusebox then to see if something is wrong there. >>>>> Might well be the case, cause about the same time my dome light >>>>> stays on at half power my wiper motor stopped working... Might be >>>>> an coincidence, but who knows? >>>>> >>>>> I will check out the fusebox this weekend! >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Robert >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Op Wo, 18 oktober, 2006 4:09 am, schreef john sadowski: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> The dome light at half power sounds like a fuse is bad. On my >>>>>> first 63, I >>>>>> had an 8 track player mounted directly below the fuses. Well , >>>>>> one day the dome light wouldn't go out & it was shining less >>>>>> then full power. Opening the doors caused the problem to move to >>>>>> the map light. After nearly pulling my hair out, I discovered >>>>>> the bad fuse. I put the 8 track back in the same place & it >>>>>> happened again. After the 2nd time, I relocated the 8 track & no >>>>>> further problem. John ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: richard burgess >>>>>> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 7:24 AM >>>>>> Subject: Re: IML: Progress of a sort on the '60 LeCrown >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Hey Everyone, >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Since we're all chiming in on our '60s I thought I would throw >>>>>> in another update. >>>>>> >>>>>> If you have paid attention to the saga, a big milestone has >>>>>> been made. I have a brand new correct windshield installed, >>>>>> finally! It's >>>>>> so beauutiful. I have most of the stainless back on but of >>>>>> course had one of the header clips break. Fortunately I have had >>>>>> parts cars. The trim slid around a bit so it took a couple tries >>>>>> to get everything rights. I am ready to install the dynamat >>>>>> insulation on the roof and begin windlacing installation. I have >>>>>> started installing weatherstripping on the doors. I seriously >>>>>> wonder how well these cars were sealed in the first place. The >>>>>> original weatherstripping was crushed in many places leading me >>>>>> to believe it never quite went the direction it was intended >>>>>> even when new. As soon as the >>>>>> headliner goes in I can start on the carpet and installing the >>>>>> interior which is already finished. >>>>>> >>>>>> The engine and transmission have now both been overhauled a >>>>>> second time due to botched work the first time. My Dad is coming >>>>>> down next week and we are going to get the drivetrain >>>>>> installed. This >>>>>> should all go very qwickly as we have now done it once before! I >>>>>> really plan on finishing the car sometime next Spring. this is >>>>>> my fourth year in this frame up restoration. We are then going >>>>>> to get the front sheetmetal on. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Then the real troubleshootinng can begin. Once everything is >>>>>> hooked up I can see what does and does not work. I have >>>>>> laboriously added a factory original power lock system from a >>>>>> parts car using the original wiring harness and nos >>>>>> transformers. I still need one >>>>>> actuator for the driver's door. It will be things like this that >>>>>> I >>>>>> am dying to know if they actually work. >>>>>> >>>>>> It's going to be looking like a car again soon! >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Richard Burgess >>>>>> '60 Crown >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Rob van der Es wrote: >>>>>> Hi Donn, >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Ahhh, the joys of owning and maintaining a 1960 Imperial... >>>>>> Been there, done that and as a matter of fact.. Still do!! >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Isn't it great fun to find yourself under the dash upside down >>>>>> (not >>>>>> too easy when you are size XXL :) trying to repair something >>>>>> that is hidden there? >>>>>> >>>>>> Right now I am trying to fix the wiper motor, it suddenly >>>>>> stopped working and haven't found out yet what is wrong. Since >>>>>> both the switch and the wiper motor are really hard to accesss >>>>>> this aint a job for the faint hearted! >>>>>> >>>>>> Another problem is that the EL dash lighting system from time >>>>>> to time fails to work, I have already thrown in a new (=rebuild) >>>>>> power pack but the dash still gets dark every now and then >>>>>> (after >>>>>> a few days everything is working again for an hour or so..) Must >>>>>> be one of the gauges that is shorting out I guess, so in a >>>>>> short time I will finding myself again under the dash pulling >>>>>> white leads from the gauges to find out which one is guilty. >>>>>> >>>>>> Then we have the strange problem with the dome-light, it stays >>>>>> on when the doors are closed.. And even stranger it shines it's >>>>>> light at half power or so. There must be a shortcircuit to >>>>>> ground (and no, >>>>>> the doorswitches are ok and so is the manual switch: with all >>>>>> those switches disconnected the dome light is still working at >>>>>> half power..) but I haven't found out yet where. >>>>>> >>>>>> I learned from Richard Burgess that there is a connectionpoint >>>>>> under the headliner, running from the manual switch to the >>>>>> domelight and then to left rear wheel well where it connected >>>>>> to the doorswitches, so problably the shortcircuit is in this >>>>>> area... >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Apart from all these electrical problems (the electrical system >>>>>> of the 60 model year isn't of the same quality as the rest of >>>>>> the car if you ask me) the car drives beautifully. Running >>>>>> strong and is shifting gears perfectly, all I have to do in this >>>>>> aspect is to sort out a rough idle. I might be in for a new >>>>>> harmonic damper since the timing mark seems to have slipped.. >>>>>> >>>>>> So enough work to do, but it is worth every minute of time that >>>>>> I >>>>>> have spend so far to make the car better then it was before I >>>>>> bought it:) It is fun, and to see all those faces of people >>>>>> looking at a car that they have never seen before...Well, it >>>>>> makes it all worth I guess! >>>>>> >>>>>> So Donn, keep up the good work and keep it runnin' >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> All the best, >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Robert >>>>>> 1960 Crown 4 door Hardtop >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Op Di, 17 oktober, 2006 5:16 am, schreef Donn Reese: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> In fits and starts the Imperial is getting more roadworthy, >>>>>>> but good grief is it putting up a fight! Maybe it's just tired >>>>>>> and WANTS >>>>>>> to go sit in a pasture forever. I've certainly been ready to >>>>>>> oblige a couple times recently. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The heater fan was making a loud scraping noise and the >>>>>>> heater control valve had been bypassed so I decided to pull >>>>>>> the heater and at least fix the fan. I was surprised how easy >>>>>>> the heater unit was to remove, just three screws. Turns out >>>>>>> the plastic housing on the outside face of the squirrel cage >>>>>>> had deformed inwards pressing against the squirrel cage >>>>>>> itself. I used my heat gun to heat up the plastic then pushed >>>>>>> the face out, reforming from a concave to a convex (btw, it's >>>>>>> pretty crappy plastic). But it's much quieter now and I didn't >>>>>>> have to cut a hole in the housing. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> With that fixed I removed the heater control valve and >>>>>>> (assuming >>>>>>> it was just froze up with corrosion) proceeded to lubricate it >>>>>>> and get the valve working again. I reinstalled it and hooked >>>>>>> up the heater hoses and fired up the car. That's when I found >>>>>>> out why it had been bypassed, it leaks. Soooo, I bypassed it >>>>>>> again and will have to scout around for a new one. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I discovered the cause of the slow turn signals at idle that >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> reported here recently.....bad flasher. I put a new one in and >>>>>>> now it works regardless of idle. Seems strange to me though. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Amongst all of this, last week the speedometer started making >>>>>>> a horrendous noise and the needle would jump around. The OIC >>>>>>> archive came in handy, found the same symptoms there....who >>>>>>> would have guessed you have to lubricate the speedo head >>>>>>> periodically. Definitely a new one on me. Especially >>>>>>> surprising considering they don't make it easy to get any of >>>>>>> the instruments out to do any kind of maintenance. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I made another little test run down the highway and back and >>>>>>> everything seems to be fine for now. Let's hope it stays that >>>>>>> way as we're now getting frost at night and working outside >>>>>>> is getting chilly. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Donn Reese >>>>>>> 1960 Custom 4dr hdtp >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com >>>>>>> ----------------- >>>>>>> This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. >>>>>>> Please >>>>>>> reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will >>>>>>> be shared with everyone. 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