70 Challenger R/T Lighting Question

[schlett7nu1]

I've owned my 70 Challenger R/T for many years. The car has the factory A01 light group option. I'm embarrassed to ask this question since I should know the answer. For the first time ever, I recently drove the car at night. All the lights worked perfectly. I was able to adjust the dimmer switch to get the light bar intensity right. This morning I drove the car in the daylight and I noticed the dash light bar was illuminated with the light switch in the off position. The car was running.  Additionally, the dimmer switch had no affect on the light bar. All the years I've owned the car I've never noticed the light bar on with the car running and the light switch off. Is this normal function for a car with the A01 light group option or do I have an electrical problem?

[Jay Bee]

No, what you described is not normal. I have A01 and my dash lights are off whenever the headlight switch is off.

[schlett7nu1]

Thanks for the response. I suspected it wasn't normal. I recently found I had no brake lights. I resolved that problem by replacing my original turn signal switch with a repro.  I suspect that switch replacement may have lead to the light bar problem while working under the dash. Any thoughts as to how to troubleshoot the problem would be appreciated.

[Jay Bee]

Any thoughts as to how to troubleshoot the problem would be appreciated.

Sorry, not off hand. We need an electrical Guru to chime in.

[anlauto]

You might have the light bar plugged into the "red" three-way plug, instead of the correct "orange" three-way plug 

[schlett7nu1]

I took a look at the dash light wiring this morning. I traced the orange light bar wire to the back of the wiper switch via a single connector. Interestingly, my wipers only work with the headlight switch in the on position.  Looking at the schematic, I don't see the orange light bar wire going to the wiper switch. It's a 2-speed wiper.  The 3-way orange connector is properly connected. Does the light bar receive power through the wiper switch?  There are no other single connector terminals anywhere near the area where the orange connector can reach other than the wiper switch.  I fear I have some improper connections or a failed switch.

[anlauto]

The light bar plugs into the 3-way orange connector with a bullet connector...not related to the wipers at all.

[Jay Bee]

This might help

[schlett7nu1]

Great info. Very helpful. I'll search for the 3-way connector.

[schlett7nu1]

Success. Referring to the attached image. There was a connector with orange wire that routes to the light bar. I thought I had inadvertently dislodged it while working under the dash. The only possible terminal it would reach was on the wiper switch. Therefore, I reattached it there. As it turned out this wire was never connected. Once I removed the connection from the wiper switch all my issues went away. It's not clear why this wire is there and not connected.

[Jay Bee]

Congrats. yeah, those wiper switches have one unused terminal, could be mistaken that something goes there.
I wonder if that orange wire is missing from the "HEATER CONTROL SWITCH LAMP".

[Jay Bee]

The wire coming off the lamp is actually yellow, schematic is in error
https://forum.e-bodies.org/interior/6/cuda-heater-control-lamp-location/17372/

[schlett7nu1]

Good thought. That would make sense to have a common harness. I searched my heater control and did not find a bulb socket.

[Jay Bee]

there's a couple on eBay right now.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=cuda+switch+panel+light&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=cuda+heater+control+light&_osacat=0

[schlett7nu1]

Thanks for the tip. I picked one up.