Short in Main Harness or light switch!??

[30aadoodlebug]

So I posted a thread a couple of days ago about how the tail-light in my 30 Tudor was always on since I put the new wiring harness and stop-light switch in. The headlights and the horn worked fine (hi-lo beams were very strong), and the circuit was good except for the tail-light being perpetually on. My father then came over, and informed me that I had the horn rod connected to the switch improperly (to turn it on, it was upwards and to the left). I tried to rectify the situation, and now the strangest thing happens: all of the lights stay on as long as the battery is connected, and when I go to connect the ground cable to the battery it shorts. I remove the main harness connection from the alternator (in the middle of rebuilding the original generator) and the car runs like a top. Any ideas of what could be causing the short? Is it the light switch itself?

Also,when I try to mount the horn rod properly to the light switch (position down for off, and upwards right for on) the spider on the rod does not make contact at all with the switch mechanism itself. So, I take the whole thing off, re-align the switch and the spider, and I get the same results. Thoughts? I'm sick of sparks, and this is the only thing that is keeping me from getting an inspection sticker and driving my car for the first time this weekend.

Thanks,

Jon

[msmaron]

Is the horn rod bent...check that, that is a cause of many shorts, also do you have the right length horn rod to start?

[30aadoodlebug]

Horn rod is fine. I thought is was the intial cause of the short so I pulled it and it checks good. Also, it is the original rod to the car.

[Mitch//pa]

can you post some pictures of your light switch installed..
are you using repo or original parts?
did you check the positions of the wires in the light switch by color codes to see if they are all installed in the proper location?

[30aadoodlebug]

Yes Mitch, I used the wiring diagram you sent me a month ago. I will try to post some pictures... For some reason this site doesn't like most of the shots I take!

[30aadoodlebug]

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Let me know if you want more shots.

[Brentwood Bob]

The replacement harness may not be seating in the cover correctly. Also the alignment of the forks is possiblly a problem.
Do you get a positive click at each position? That should tell you that everything is aligned properly.
Bob

[msmaron]

IS the horn rod seating all the way down on the steering wheel when you attach the spider clip...Usually you need either 2 persons or I just a wooden paint stirrer to hold the horn rod in all the way..If not this can be one reason for your short.?? take a look and make sure.

[30aadoodlebug]

Bob, When I have the horn rod seated incorrectly (upwards left to turn on), yes, there are three distinct clicks. When I try to put the rod in the proper position (upwards right for on) there are no clicks at all. There is only one way the replacement harness can go in, as there is a tab on the switch body making it this way. How do I realign the forks (do you mean the contacts of the switch itself?)

Mark, I hold down the horn rod with a bungee cord and an old piece of clapboard from my barn

[jax55]

If you are not feeling detents when you move the light switch knob, it sounds like the spider is not connected to the switch. Did you make sure the switch was back to "off" position before you made the other changes? Could be it is in one of the on positions and the spider is missing the slots to operate it.
You said you are getting a short when connecting the battery cable, is it really a short or just sparks from the draw of the lights being on? Just trying to clarify so you can get good feedback from the forum.

[30aadoodlebug]

Hey Jax, Yes, it may just be a draw. As for the switch, there is no on off position when it is not connected to the horn rod; the contacts just spin freely. Is this supposed to happen? or is it time for a new switch?

[msmaron]

Wait, i think we might be missing something.

Let start over here, turn off the lights, DIS-connect the battery, insert the horn rod and make sure it button/lever is seated in the steering wheel all the way down,. Try to use another person for that.. Then get the spider connected and make sure the clip is secure..when that is done test the horn button to make sure you have a click to the right and another 2nd click to the right (Brights). Then attach the light bail and make sure it is all the way over the horn rod and attached and secure..NOW attach the battery please and try the lights, then the horn. Try that and let us know so we can go from there.. There is a bit of dive bombing here and hard to follow...Make sense??

[30aadoodlebug]

Hey Mark, Did as you asked, and the rod spins around the steering wheel like the hands on a clock. No clicks at all. Prognosis?

[msmaron]

OK that is what I think we were not hoping to hear...and you did all that already..?? Can you pull the horn rod.. Is the bottom of the rod have an area for the retainer clip.. and dumb question I know but are you securing the clip to the bottom of the rod with the SPRING?? Are you getting the spring pushed far enough up to get on that retainer clip?

[msmaron]

YOU need these 2 items...

[msmaron]

My first thought is that your rod is NOT long enough to get into the light bail if it spins like a clock and your don't have that rod down far enough to retain the clip on it with the spring,.

[30aadoodlebug]

Yep, its on there the way it's supposed to be. I've become rather accustomed to doing this by myself, so having an extra set of hands makes things go faster.

[msmaron]

hahah ok...is the baklite plate secure in the light bail bottom housing, there is a notch to make sure it is in correctly and make sure the top fits all the way on and twists, There is no reason you should NOT hear the click or feel them rather if this is on all correct and you have the correct length rod..What year is your car?

[30aadoodlebug]

The rod makes contact with the light bail. It just does not do it in the proper fashion that it is supposed to (it will not connect with the switch in the proper down off position (6), upwards right on position( 5 for lows and 4 for his). The only time it will connect is going from the 7 position to the 8 position and 9 position. Even then, it will not turn off. This is what has me confused.

[30aadoodlebug]

Car is a 30 Tudor.