'73T three minor problems I could use some help with

[kilodawg]

Still learning and gaining confidence on working on the car. I'm down to three minor but annoying problems that I'm sure are unrelated but on the electrical side of the house. If I knew where and how to start troubleshooting I'd attack them. So any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

First, Fuel gauge does not read accurately. It's always low to near empty. The low fuel light does register properly but the needle while it may move a little is not working properly. I replaced the fuel sender last weekend with a brand new one (the connector looked clean) but no change.

Second, The Tach goes crazy at times. On yesterdays drive it alternated from reading accurately and steady to bouncing like crazy, to reading low, to flat out not reading anything. Couldn't correlate this to road surface, speed or anything really. The connection to the distributor is fine.

Third, The fresh air blower doesn't work. I looked under the dash and everything appears to be connected properly and the fuse is not blown. I cleaned the contacts and replaced it just in case. So where to look next. I was hoping to get into the blower assembly only as a last resort.

Here is the problem child again

[ossiblue]

Kilodawg,

First, your car is beautiful--just what I would love to own!
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Sounds like fuel level part of the gauge needs attention. This part is easily accessable after you remove the gauge fron the dash. If the sender is good, and the wiring is good, I'd suspect the metering part of the combo gauge. You can job it out for refurbishing or, possibly, order just the fuel meter and put it in yourself.

No idea on the tach, but I have seen some previous threads about the exact symptoms so a search may turn something up.

The fresh air blower may be a problem with the motor itself--not too hard to access. Remove the cardboard cover in the luggage compartment and you'll see the blower box. It's been a while for me, but if I remember correctly, you should be able to remove the motor from the box without too much disassembly of other components. Most likely, the motor needs a bit of service, or something is clogging the fan.

edit: I just called up some pictures of the blower and you will have to remove it to access the motor. Not too difficult, but it will take disassembly of components. Before you launch into it, be sure your getting current to the motor by checking the terminals on the plug that goes to the blower box.

[RWebb]

check your points and ground wires near the tach

[Sunroof]

I will assume Dawg that its a 1973.5T/CIS model by the look of the bumperettes? I have the same vehicle Dawg so I recommend that you go into the trunk and check the wire connection to the fuel level unit in the fuel tank. Take it out, and clean the contacts. Their might be something on 101 Projects I believe or tech notes on repairing the fuel level unit. The slide wires can get gummed up stalling the float or messing up the contact. Its hard sometimes to evaluate the sending unit in the tank from a malfuntioning guage. Fuel guage repair can be done if needed; however, sometimes it pays to buy a used unit (Pelican, Ebay, Panorama). Not too pricey.

A crazy tach can be a re-set of the points as it happened to me. I was going down the road and suddenly the tach went to zero a few times! Also clean the "green" wire brass contact at the rear of the distributor cap. That wire is precious do not bend it too much.

For the blower motor, I took electrical contact cleaner and cleaned the slide mechanism through the lever slot and got it working. If the metal is dirty you will not get a contact. Check the fuse next. If its the blower motor, you have to be extra careful removing the cardboard shield to access it. Those exterior level control rods and locking pins for directing the air into low or high vents have to be handled very carefully. Blower motors are available for these cars.

Good luck

Bob

[RWebb]

yes, but do the easy stuff first & keep notes

a weak acid (10% vinegar) will make the contacts sparkle - you can dilute photo developer if you cannot find it

then you can use an electrical contact spray or dielectric grease

keep notes of which ones you've cleaned - there are lots of them

[kilodawg]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I have a place to start now and will do this methodically and take notes.

Bob, it's a '73 but it's MFI not CIS. My understanding as well as my memory from back in the day was that the bumperettes were a DOT requirement for all 73 model cars. I know this has been discussed before so I'm not trying to rekindle it here but either way I'm confident this car came with them....

[silverc4s]

Kdawg,
Not sure if it was clear from the previous posts, but all of the described problems could be caused by loose and/or corroded connections in your electrical systems. Esp given Florida's salty air, I would do the clean & grease sealing as a good weekend project..

[tcar]

Tach problem like that is usually adjusting contact points in the distributor.

Make sure the control cables on the blower unit are adjusted correctly, that was the problem on mine.