Tonight, I replaced the instrument cluster with one I bought in a set of
parts on eBay. The original cluster had poor connections on the back and
even a couple of the pins broken off where that round connector goes on. I
wanted to keep the 76 style speedometer as it is miles only and the
replacement must have been a 77 because it had big miles and small
kilometers. I opened both up, and moved the face plate from the old one to
the replacement. I installed the replacement unit in the car and all the
lights worked and the fuel guage worked and the alternator red warning light
worked. The two lights on the right side behind the three smaller guages
weren't working but they are probably burned out. I think half the bulbs in
this car are burned out! I mean give me a break! If you can't replace
bulbs, get yourself a bicycle!! (breathe! breathe!) ok, I'm better now!
Where was I? Bulbs, ok, bulbs. I'd better go on bulb detail soon. So I
couldn't tell if the ammeter was working 'cause it didn't do much when I
turned accessories on and off and I ran the car for a while and I think the
temp guage came up a little but again, I'm not sure if it was working
properly. I'll test that more later.
I then turned my attention to the glove box lock and latch. The latch would
just turn around and around freely and I'd need to put the key in it to get
the latch to open. I had another latch from the T&C so I took them both out
of thier respective glove boxes. The trouble is, I'm not sure I can get the
latch/lock mechanism back together properly...hmmm. Another project for
later. I'll probably end up taking the tray out of the car so I can work on
it on the bench, or even in the house, where it's warm!
Testing the signal lights, they mostly work but at least the right fender
mounted signal light doesn't work and neither does the cornering light on
the same side. I might tie into this next.
Brad Hogg
Winnipeg, Manitoba
http://www.nybclub.org/bradhogg/index.htm
1990 Chrysler Imperial 4-door Sedan (the KImperial)
1978 Chrysler Newport 4-door Hard Top (the Newporker)
1976 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham 4-door Hard Top (the Black Beast)
1968 Chrysler Newport Custom 4-door Sedan (Grand-Dad's car)
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network