Funny Electrical

Ok, I'm just throwin this out there because its late and we don't have a lot of electrical info on here.

Here's the deal:

89 DOHC swapped Hatch 5 speed

Put the car in reverse, no reverse lights and low oil pressure light in dash lights up. I haven't checked to see if they are even plugged in yet but I wouldn't doubt if they are because the outside taillights weren't.

The car has all running lights working. Hit the brakes and nothing. I haven't gotten to check fuses yet, but the bulbs all appear to be good. No corrosion and the filliments are in tact. Yes, they are hooked up .

Speedo doesn't work. The sensor is plugged in to the lower transmission harness, but it could quite possibly be that the trans harness isn't fully connected to the main harness. I'll have to check it out.


That is all I've found so far. Besides for the wipers sucking balls (motor possibly bad) everything else seems to work. Again, some of this shit could just be stupid easy fixes, but again, we don't have much electrical on here not to mention that it could be something more than just a bad bulb/fuse. So the more suggestions the better IMO.

Sorry for some spelling errors... I'm tired. Good night

press brake - go check if you get 12v at bulb
if yes, check ground.

Ugggggg.......me and electrical don't mix.....

Try Specter.....lol!

speedo issue could be to a faulty speed sensor

brakelights....hmm ill wait till everything is hooked up

I just confirmed that all the connectors for the brake lights are plugged in. I only see one ground back there and it is hooked up, though I don't have my DVOM here to check voltage. I got under the brake pedal and it appears that the sensor is hooked up and working properly, but again, don't have the meter to know for sure. Fuse is good, but while in there I noticed a little 2 wire connector that wasn't plugged in. Nearby I found the male end of it and connected it. IDK what it was, but it didn't do anything that I can tell. Maybe it was for the speedo?

I hate to rule anything out taba240, but the speed sensor was working properly in my vert, so I think that its probably good. Though near the main fuse box in the engine bay there are 3 plugs not connected to anything.

1 grey female 4 pin from chassis harness going twords the fuse box from near the washer fluid resivor.
1 small grey female multipin from trans harness going up to the fuse box
1 small reddish w/ green connecting pad multipin male comming from the fuse box.

I am charging the camera right now so after I eat breakfast, I'm going to take pictures and check that ground by the taillights. Is there any other grounds for the taillights in other locations?

Alright, taillights work now. After getting my DVOM and checking voltage by Jay's instruction, found very little voltage when the brakelights were hit and a drop when they were not.

I unplugged the fuse and turned the lights on and found that the lights themselves are on a seprate fuse. Looking at the fuse in the daytime I noticed more corrosion on it than last night... new fuse and everything is good as far as the brakelights are concerned.

Now onto thoes connectors.

Under driver kick panel. Was unhooked but now connected and have noticed no change. Speedo still doesn't work.




1st grey plug comming from transmission harness




2nd reddish plug comming from fuse box




3rd grey plug comming from chassis harness

did u plug all those connectors in? That is where ur reverse light wires run to. If not find out where they go. There should only be like 4 on the side and unless u have a five speed swap they sould all have a plug in them.

Look around under the intake plenum and u should see the female side of that small connector.

Did u try connecting number 2 and 3?



Ur reverse lights sound more complicated then just something not plugged in.

If a different light comes on then what is supposto in anything in ur car u prbably have a short in the wiring harness.

I'm pretty sure its a mild short cause when its cold, my "BRAKE" light in the dash lights up by itself untill it warms up.

I don't care though... the car works and runs great. It'll be awesome for winter. I'll attack it more in the springtime.

that issue with the "brake" light could be an internily shorted brake fluid level indicator switch

try swapping out master cyl. caps with some one