1976 R90/6 parking and speedo/tach lamps out

[DSHAR]

Hello! I finally have a tech question to pose to the experts...

The parking lamp and speedo/tach lamps on my 1976 R90/6 suddenly stopped working. The center lamps (oil, gen, etc) work normally, but I get no lighting in the dials and no parking lamp regardless of the key or light switch position (the main headlight works fine). Everything had been functioning, then suddenly wasn't.

I replaced the parking lamp and headlight bulb to no avail. Do I proceed to fuses? Might it be the switch or relay? Your wise suggestions welcome. Thank you!

 

[lmo1131]

Get one of these (if you don't have one). Ground one end to the ( - ) terminal of the battery, or the engine case. When you touch an energized wire the light in the handle come on; if the wire is not energized the light remains off. It does not matter which end is grounded.

Start with the terminal on the lamp, and work your way back until the light goes on; the last thing you tested is the problem. Check for loose ground wires (Brown).

If you do not have a wiring diagram you're totally in the dark (yeah, that was a pun). This one is '73-74, but it will get you started.

And welcome aboard!

 

[20774]

Welcome to the forum! Guess things have been going well with the /6 to not have a tech question up to now!

Per Lew's diagram, all of those lights get power through one fuse. That's probably where I'd look first.

 

[DSHAR]

Thank you, gents! I’ll track down an 8-amp fuse first and give that a shot...

 

[m_stock10506]

If that (fuse) doesn't fix things up, take a look at the new Katdash replacement instrument lighting panel. "Kat" and her husband, both Airheads have designed solid state replacements for the flexible circuits that power your instruments. All solid state, and bright LED lamps that replace the bulbs. I have nothing to gain in making this recommendation - I am running one of their "Slash 6" units in my 1974 R60/6. It is brilliant. Fit was perfect and the lighting is way better than the original lighting ever was.

http://katdash.com/

 

[DSHAR]

The fuse was the culprit! I just swapped it out for a fresh one this afternoon and all is well.

Thank you so much for your kind advice; saved me a ton of (possibly expensive) troubleshooting...

 

[20774]

 

[lmo1131]

The fuse was the culprit! I just swapped it out for a fresh one this afternoon and all is well.

Which begs the question, "Was it blown?" And the follow on question would be, "Why?"

 

[DSHAR]

Upon close inspection it was indeed blown.

I was caught in a pretty heavy rainfall the night before it happened, so perhaps some moisture caused a short. I’m traveling with a few spare fuses; if it happens again I reckon I’ll have to dig deeper...Thanks again.