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Thread: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

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    Bodger

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    Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    Im no auto electrician so please bare with me i have wiring diagram and manuals searched here too but im confused with what i read so far. The car is mk1 escort converted to pinto and dashboard is 6 clock version. The engine hasn't run yet and wanted to make sure everything is wired correct and safe first.


    The problem is red light at bottom of instrument cluster between large tach and rev dials is always on regardless of key position also with the key out when parked, surely that's wrong?

    The alternator has thick red and thinner black(could be solid dark blue or brown) wire on the 3 pin plug is that right with 1 large spade missing? The thick red goes to starter motor, and where should black wire goto?

    The starter motor has thick red wire and smaller red wires seems obvious big ring on big terminal and smaller one on solenoid. Then there is thick black one, could the odd black wire be earth to starter body/gearbox bellhousing?

    Fuel gauge is pegged to full but i have no sender in aftermarket fuel tank.

    Whilst on the electrical I like to double check fusebox is wired right:
    1 2 fuse have 2pin plug
    3 4 5 has 3 pin plug for lights grey/red white yellow
    6 empty
    7 has single thick red (this one keeps blowing ) can't make out on diagram what this fuse is for?

    Thank you

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Re: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    not easy as it seems your wiring has been "modded" but lets start with alternator / starter.
    starter is earthed via bolts, - if it has an earth from battery - it needs to go to mount bolt.
    assuming its pre engaged then it should have a large "battery" lead from battery + to lug/nut on solenoid (other lug / nut is into starter.) usually but not always red.
    then a small cable (usually blk/yel on mk2) to spade on solenoid. this is the one that starts it off key.
    any thick cables from the alternator to starter must go to the same lug as the battery + as these provide the charge to battery.
    alternator - usually 3 but both thick ones go same place so just one thick to solenoid is ok.
    thin one on alternator (from seperate small spade) goes to the red light you mention, other side of red light is a live from ign switch,

    thats a start.
    Last edited by alladdin; 25-01-2019 at 22:45.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    Thank you for clear explanation i traced all the wires from starter and alternator and its how you described apart from alternator which has no sepereate spade connection, 3pin plug (large red to starter motor and thin black went to dashboard red light thats always on) and couple tall threaded posts. Battery is in the boot.

    The red light is always on still, all lights and all switches work without the key in ignition is this normal? Or is something powering the loom and car all the time?

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    Bodger

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    Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    Lights will work without ignition on but not wipers or heater...

    Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Re: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    the other side of red light should be fed with a live from the ign switch - only live when ign ON. CHECK THE IGN SW WIRING. as a starting point.

    ref alternator - yes the small spade i refer to is on the 3 pin plug.
    Last edited by alladdin; 27-01-2019 at 21:57.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    I have checked ignition switch wiring already however i check again
    Also double check heater fan and wiper as i recall they also worked without a key.

    red 12v all the time key in or out
    yellow wire accessory for cig lighter always on apart from key in cranking position
    black yellow off without key and on with key in.

    Back of 6 clocks the red light has 2 wires black/yellow goes to round connector and blue to connector however black/yellow seems to connect all over the place all seems to match wiring diagram.

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    Re: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    If that alternator has 3 terminals they may be marked B+, D and W? B+ is linked to battery / starter motor, D is dash warning light and W not used. I think the thin wire has been incorrectly put in the W position - this would give a constant light on.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Mk1 with Pinto Red light on 6 clock dash always on

    Thank you it makes sense so i gone though everything again.

    Checked ignition switch that works fine

    Alternator unwrapped all the wiring and found the 2 red cables joined near starter motor and black wire was spliced into the original blue wire at bulkhead round plug and to middle pin. Checked that cable and replaced it entirely with blue wire of same size. So now 3 pin alternator plug as 1 thick red wire and 1 smaller blue.

    I pulled that pin out and connected to seperate spade connector on alternator the light went out but never came on. My understanding if bulbs out the alternator not charging or if it didnt come on with key on cranking it still wont charge. Moved blue wire back to into 3 pin plug.


    Then checked cabin side wiring from round bulkhead connector to dash connector, that was ok. traced dash connector to dash itself ok. Connected it up everything still got 12v all the time without key.

    Back to fuse box

    1 2 fuse have 2pin plug

    3 4 5 has 3 pin plug for lights grey/red white yellow

    6 empty

    7 has single thick red (this one keeps blowing ) can't make out on diagram what this fuse is for?

    7 fuse is puzzling me its thick red wire with 12v all the time this sole wire looks part of original harness with grey female bullet for something that lived close fusebox? It looked like it belong on fusebox? Removing this solved everything! red light only comes on key II and cranking same with power at coil ect. Key in I or out red light is off 0V.

    However i can switch all lights high beam, dipped and sidelight fan heater cig lighter ect all works without key apart from indicators. So Key only starts engine and indicators?

    If that's sounds ok im going to try starting it! hopefully driving in the snow tomorrow

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