Wires and flashing?

[bobswei]

On this '75 2.0L, when I turn the ignition on, the brake light in the fuel gauge starts flashing. If I pull the wire off the number 8 terminal on the fuse block, it stops but the blinkers stop also. And, on that same terminal on the fuse block, another wire was spliced in that goes back to the regulator plate in the engine compartment. What is this blue wire for? On the wiring diagram, I believe it shows as a black wire.
Thanks!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The brake light is likely flashing either because the handbrake handle is up, or the switch inside the master cylinder has tripped. It is possible that the flat on the bottom of the handbrake handle has missed the button that shuts off the light, or that the wire to that button has fallen off and shorted to ground.

Those are the two most likely causes of the blinking light--they are what's supposed to trigger it.

The wire you show here is not stock, someone has added it. It would have been used to send power to the rear window defogger, if one was equipped. There would be a plug that goes over those two posts, not wires poorly soldered to them. It looks like there is one wire soldered to both posts, actually.

I'd suggest getting rid of that wire.

--DD