1973 Challenger Ignition Wire Connector

[Fordication]

So looking at ignition wire connector coming out of the steering wheel. Like an 8 pin wire connector. What does the brown wire, the red wire and the orange wire in the center of the connector go to. Yes I have the service manual and the drawings but not a clear answer to.my question.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Description are by the wires.

 

[Fordication]

Thank you. The previous owner removed both sides of the orange wire and i could not find what it went to. So the brown wire would not allow the car to run if it was removed, right?

Description are by the wires.
View attachment 152097

 

[Challenger RTA]

Thank you. The previous owner removed both sides of the orange wire and i could not find what it went to. So the brown wire would not allow the car to run if it was removed, right?

correct

 

[Fordication]

So the orange wire is just for the console light? I cannot even imagine a reason why anyone would cut that wire out.

 

[Fordication]

correct View attachment 152102

Hold on just a second. So the same wire supplies lights to the dash and other lights. Its not for the lights on the console shifter. Does that mean that the instruments are backlit and that the lights over the dash instruments are not the only lights.

 

[Challenger RTA]

instruments are backlit

No

 

[Challenger RTA]

Dash lights a Brighter possibility

 

[Challenger RTA]

So the orange wire is just for the console light?

yes

 

[HPP]

The small orange wire supplies the light bulbs throughout the dash. Its presence in the column is for either A) the auto trans selector lighting, or B) the ignition key light. But these are all wired together throughout the orange wire harness so all of these lights illuminate together. If yours is disconnected in the column, one or both of those two lights is not coming on with the rest of the lighting.

Why would someone disconnect that...hard to say. It's possible someone at some time replaced one of the bulbs with too powerful a replacement, it melted something, and rather than get the correct bulb, they disconnected the power. Maybe they replaced the radio with an aftermarket unit, nicked the orange wire, and through improper troubleshooting capability, disconnected the column wire. One thing I've learned working on old cars is to never underestimate previous owner's willingness to hack things up.

 

[Challenger RTA]

If someone cut the the orange wire on the dash side connector. That also cuts power to the dash lights. They are both fused from the same fuse.

 

[Fordication]

If someone cut the the orange wire on the dash side connector. That also cuts power to the dash lights. They are both fused from the same fuse.

That is what I am thinking. I will check it all out when I get home.

 

[Fordication]

The small orange wire supplies the light bulbs throughout the dash. Its presence in the column is for either A) the auto trans selector lighting, or B) the ignition key light. But these are all wired together throughout the orange wire harness so all of these lights illuminate together. If yours is disconnected in the column, one or both of those two lights is not coming on with the rest of the lighting.

Why would someone disconnect that...hard to say. It's possible someone at some time replaced one of the bulbs with too powerful a replacement, it melted something, and rather than get the correct bulb, they disconnected the power. Maybe they replaced the radio with an aftermarket unit, nicked the orange wire, and through improper troubleshooting capability, disconnected the column wire. One thing I've learned working on old cars is to never underestimate previous owner's willingness to hack things up.

Not disconnect. They cut them off at that connector.

 

[pschlosser]

The small orange wire supplies the light bulbs throughout the dash. Its presence in the column is for either A) the auto trans selector lighting, or B) the ignition key light. But these are all wired together throughout the orange wire harness so all of these lights illuminate together. If yours is disconnected in the column, one or both of those two lights is not coming on with the rest of the lighting.

Agreed, the orange wire into the steering column supplies the gear selection lighting on a column shift, and would not necessarily be used with a floor shift car.

From memory, the ignition switch key lamp is an option available on cars with specific light packages, connected via yellow wire on a time delay and is dimmed after some amount of time after the car is started.

 

[HPP]

Ahh, thats right, the ignition light was optional and feed by a yellow wire.

If the OPs car now has a console shift system, that could be wire the orange wire was cut out of the steering column connector.

 

[Fordication]

Ahh, thats right, the ignition light was optional and feed by a yellow wire.

If the OPs car now has a console shift system, that could be wire the orange wire was cut out of the steering column connector.

At least now I have a location to look for. Looks like the dash is coming out so I can check those wires as well. Maybe bulbs. I drove from wisconsin with the lights that are just above the gauges and thought that was the way they were supposed to be lit up. Hmmmm

 

[Challenger RTA]

The A01 was a separate lighting package,a single yellow wire. Don't get confused by this. You don't have that.

 

[HPP]

At least now I have a location to look for. Looks like the dash is coming out so I can check those wires as well. Maybe bulbs. I drove from wisconsin with the lights that are just above the gauges and thought that was the way they were supposed to be lit up. Hmmmm

That is the only way the dash is lit. They called it stadium lighting. That how the lighting was in E bodies. To get backlite gauges, you would have to convert them to an aftermarket unit.

 

[Fordication]

The A01 was a separate lighting package,a single yellow wire. Don't get confused by this. You don't have that.
View attachment 152157View attachment 152158View attachment 152159

Sounds good. I was just wanting to find out where the orange wire went to. If you same my harness, someone cut it out on both sides. I was concerned it was the lights behind my instruments.

That is the only way the dash is lit. They called it stadium lighting. That how the lighting was in E bodies. To get backlite gauges, you would have to convert them to an aftermarket unit.

Well damn, everybody was telling me I had bulbs in the back of my gauges. In fact I saw a photo of one with bolts in the back of the gauges. Now I'm confused I guess I better read the books that I purchased