PLEASE HELP! Light switch and underdash connectors

David E. Clark · 12-21-2003, 03:34 AM

Please help! I'm reinstalling the wiring for my 1973 911E. I've followed the wiring diagram closely (although it's very confusing) but I still have two BIG problems. I've attached pictures.

1. Picture 1. On terminal 56 from the light switch I am supposed to have two wires. A white and black (which I have) and a yellow which I am missing. Where does this yellow wire come from? The wiring diagram shows "headlight relay." Can someone show me a picture of their headlight switch. I have an extra black wire from the turnsignal switch (Item 30 in the wiring diagram) which says it goes to the "wiper pump" but this is the only "extra" wire I can find. There are two yellow wires on the turn signal switch but they seem to go together.

2. Picture 2. I've confused the multi-connectors (I think). I've numbered them 1-5 in the second picture. Can someone PLEASE tell me which is which! Which connector plugs into which socket? Even better, would someone be so kind as to take a picture under their dash so I can copy the layout.

I've looked through every repair manual I have and cannot seem to find a solution. Does anyone know of a manual for early Porsches that covers electrical systems for home mechanics? I'll gladly pay a premimum!!!

A million thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Halm · 12-21-2003, 04:48 AM

Similar problems a couple of weeks ago. Read this thread:
Electrical Flow Charts Help

I found Sherwood's page and down loaded the file but can't immediately find it. PM me this afternoon if you still need it.

Good luck!

alan911 · 12-21-2003, 09:25 AM

I had the very same issue on the Yellow wire last month. After looking at the wiring dia. for a few hours, this is what I did.

I undid the Yellow wires that are looped together from the directional switch. This gives you a female connector (56b) that will go to teminal 56 along with the white/black wire.

I think the Yellow is the low beam but I'm not sure. Without it connected to 56b, I didn't have any lows if I recall.

Don't ask me why the Yellows are looped in the first place as I haven't got a clue, and really it still doesn't make any sense to me. When they are looped together they don't do anything.

Some diagrams show the "male" yellow connector just "out there" and not connected to anything. But the female yellow does go to terminal 56.

As for the "plugs", if I recall, they are all different (different no. of pins) and will only go in one place. The Light switch goes way up there in location #5. It's the hardest one to get to. Naturally.

Paul Thomas · 12-21-2003, 09:42 AM

David,
I just looked and i dont have a yellow wire at that terminal either, and all of my stuff works. As for the second pic, you might want to come over and have a peek, it is had to tell where any of that crap goes. I have not done a whole lot of wiring on my car, so im not a big help.

Paul

alan911 · 12-21-2003, 10:00 AM

Just looked at a Wiring dia. Do you have the correct directional switch for the model-year car ?? Some have the yellow wire and some don't.

The reason I say this is that, my PO had the wrong directional in the car with no Yellow. I changed it to the proper year (77) and plugged it in the same way as the old one. No low beams. did the Yellow change as in previous post and everything works.

Note..... before you put everything back in, make sure all the lights, dash indicators (high beam and parking light) , and directionals work properly.

David E. Clark · 12-21-2003, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I seem to have different wiring diagrams than everyone else. Mine are from the original factory manuals, Volume VI, pages 0.1-2/5 and 0.1-2/7. I've attached scans of these if anyone is interested.

These old diagrams are pretty confusing. My multi-connectors (picture 2 above) all seem to fit every plug? It seems like they should only fit one plug each but since they fit in every plug I don't have any idea which is which! I'm all ears for any other suggestions.

alan911 · 12-22-2003, 06:26 AM

Your scans didn't post.

David E. Clark · 12-22-2003, 09:50 AM

allan911

I'm not sure why the scans didn't post. I'll try again when I get home. If you want me to send them to you by email, I'll be happy to.

Since I have the factory manuals, I'd be happy to send scans for your car as well. Just PM me.

David

David E. Clark · 12-22-2003, 01:52 PM

I've tried every which way to post the scans but they will not work. I'm saving them as .jpg files, the same as the digital photos, but the scans do not post? Anyway, if anyone wants I will be happy to email them. I know email works! Just PM me with your email address. Thanks for the help so far.

David

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

David,
In looking at my headlight switch I also do not have a yellow wire connected as shown in the factory diagrams for the 71' year model. There is no diagram for 72'/73' suggesting no changes so I looked at the 74' diagram and once again it showed a yellow connected to terminal 56. Go figure.

Like Paul I have no problem.

I'll take a shot of the multipins tomorrow and post for you.

David E. Clark · 12-26-2003, 02:47 PM

I'm back from Christmas with the family and ready to get down to fixing this electrical problem tomorrow morning. If anyone has any pictures (or other suggestions) please post. I'll post again tomorrow evening to let everyone know how things work out.

I've got scans from the 1973 factory wiring diagrams (and other years up to 1980) and parts manuals if anyone needs these. Send me a private message and I'll forward them to you by email. I have not been able to get them to post here!