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Challenger RTA

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Just to the right of the green circle you can see the black plug from the factory harness. It come out of the harness in green the circle area. That is power for the gauges. Any thing that powers up in the Acc position would work. It doesn't draw thar much power.

If you look at the diagram with the dots it explains it better but it doesn't show everything. Go to the diagram and look at the acc side. Any thing on that side should be switch from the ignition. Also follow the wires back to the ing switch you might see a place to connect to.

Just using the picture for refence. The green makes where there for something else. There is the radio that you can connect to. I'm not sure how the painless harness is made up. take a look. It should be on the acc side.

Ok. With the key off. Go through and check to see what is hot. Make note of it. Do the same with the key on. You might find something that will work.
 
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sheetmetaldan

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I checked mine its dead. My problem is the guy who put in the painless fuse block butchered my wiring. So that’s why I’m now just trying to find power where I can to get things working again. I have my instrument lights back. It’s not factory correct but they work so I’ll take it! The dimmer I may have to bail out on. The gauges need a 12V source I just don’t know from where to get it from. Once I have
Ignition 1 in the engine harness, dark blue wire. Can be found at the ballast resistor, voltage regulator, one of the alternator field wires, idle solenoid and/or distributor solenoid on some models.

that I’ll probably call it good enough at least then I’ll be able to drive my car & read my fuel & temp gauges once again. If I can get it to that point, I’ll take that as a win & call it a day.
 

sheetmetaldan

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I checked mine its dead. My problem is the guy who put in the painless fuse block butchered my wiring. So that’s why I’m now just trying to find power where I can to get things working again. I have my instrument lights back. It’s not factory correct but they work so I’ll take it! The dimmer I may have to bail out on. The gauges need a 12V source I just don’t know from where to get it from. Once I have


that I’ll probably call it good enough at least then I’ll be able to drive my car & read my fuel & temp gauges once again. If I can get it to that point, I’ll take that as a win & call it a day.

IMG_6938.jpeg
 

Katfish

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You don't want power to gauges all the time, would kill battery.
Run a feed from the accessory power.
 

Challenger RTA

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You don't want power to gauges all the time, would kill battery.
Run a feed from the accessory power.
I think he understands that now. He needs to find something on the Acc side of the ign sw. Like the radio or under the column by the plug. I think his harness is wacked a bit and has to figure it out.
 

sheetmetaldan

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I think he understands that now. He needs to find something on the Acc side of the ign sw. Like the radio or under the column by the plug. I think his harness is wacked a bit and has to figure it out.
Yeah it’s kind of a mess! Thank you everyone for the help! I’d still be 1/2 stuffed under my dash swearing like a madman if it wasn’t for everyone’s help! As of now I have 12v to the gauge cluster (used the large blue Acc wire at the base of the column) and have power to the instrument lights. The dimmer will be a problem for another day. Thanks once again!
 

sheetmetaldan

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Well new problem now. I just spent the day putting everything back together and of course the car won’t start!
It tries to turn over cranking for a split second then just the clicking sound from the solenoid. Even with a 200/A battery starter on it I can’t get it to turn over.
Just to recap what I’ve done I have power to my instrument lights now & ran 12V to my gauges by tapping into a blue wire from the column. I have no clue where that wire goes all I know is it had 12V when I turned the key so I spliced into it. Is it possible tapping into that wire is stealing some power to keep my car from starting?
I’m hoping the battery is just real weak but I’ve got a feeling it isn’t. While I was messing with the wires these past cple weeks I started the car here & there and it fired up.
 

Challenger RTA

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Sounds like the starter relay has a bad ground. The case on the relay is ground in some cases. Make sure the starter relay mounting bolt is clean and tight.
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