Electrical issue-1st Gen, need help!

[Ressurection]

Plugged the plug into the back of the dash tonight and had very dim dash lights and courtesy lights, but NOTHING when I turned the key on. ??? I've been running with the plug disconnected from the dash, and a jumper in the contacts that light the courtesy lights, which by the way, also allows the key to start the truck. Could this be simply a bad ammeter or voltage regulator? Or is it something more complex?
HELP!!!

 

[Russell]

Sounds like a ground issue to me...

Try checking your grounds to make sure everything is happy. I forgot to hook up the ground wire on my 74 when I first got it, all my gauges worked properly, but when I turned the headlights on, I'd get interior lights turning on, dash lights only kinda on, and a signal light on solid, inside and out, lol

 

[Ressurection]

Are you talking the main ground from the battery cable? Or where?

 

[Russell]

Not 100% sure about the 1st gens, but my 74 had a ground wire that ran from the harness that went up to the gauge cluster down to the parking brake bracket. I knew about the wire, I just forgot to hook it up when I put the truck back together.

 

[3 on the tree]

Haven't looked under the dash but, up front there are 3 grounds that I know of on my 70. Neg batt cable to engine block, ext volt reg to core support, pass inner fender to frame. I'm sure there are more, but that's what I saw cleaning the engine compartment.

 

[Roz]

i would say grounding also, check the contacts on ure wires, and there should be one to the dash.