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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
In my continuous search to find my bad earth problem (flickering gauges), I have disabled and trashed all previous owner wiring from an alarm system. I have found wires that go nowhere, splicings all around and relays that are not hooked up. I spent 12 hours cutting,researching,yanking,reading diagrams etc etc. On with my question...
The photo below shows my headlamp switch. I pulled out to verify all connections are OK and noticed one of the terminals had no wire connected...terminal number 5. Is this suppose to be unused ? Is this a ground point ?
Any help is most graciously appreciated.
Mike
 (lightswitch1a.JPG)
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 lightswitch1a.JPG (58KB - 12 downloads)
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CaptnPete
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Rear Foglight? |
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dai
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Mike, on the rotary headlight switches there are sometimes unused terminals. You can test what that does by using a test light. I have one that has an alligator clip on the end of a wire and the light bulb in the clear plastic housing with a sharp point metal end at the top. Connect the clip on the wire end to ground/earth and hold the sharp end of the testlight against the terminal on the swith.
With the ignition switched on go through the various positions of the switch to see when you get a light.
The rotary switch has a couple of extra setting. When you pull the swich there are two stops. The first click is often tied to fog/driving lights and the next pulled out position is often for fog taiillight and when that is selected a red light in the center of the switch knob will light if that circuit is working.
With the ignition off, there are two live detents when you twist the switch knob to the left. Furthest left is the lefthand parking bulbs, the next click right, the righthand parking bulbs should be lit. Straight up and down is Off, a click to the right is overall parking and all the way right is lights on. Somewhere in those choices your test bulb should light up telling you what switch position it is connected to. You could use a voltmeter to do it but a test light is safe and easy. That is how I would try to figure it out.  Best of luck,
-Dai |
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roughneck
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: UK, Germany & USA
Vehicle(s): 270 cdi.300 GD 300 GE.lwb 300 GE.swb. Disco 2
Posts: 4398
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Would a wiring diagrame help.? |
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hus55
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: north cyprus,lapta.
Vehicle(s): 300GDS, G300 LONG,300GDT CLK55 AMG CAB.
Posts: 2230
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
mike,you might want to pm shakir,he is quite good with the electrics on the G.(he may not have picked up on this topic)
good luck. |
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Thanks for the input. Sometimes I just dont think of the basic things especially when frustrated and with little sleep. I used test light and found it to go on with the standing lamps. Now off to recheck all connections and add another earth wire to switch to see if that helps my flickering gauges.
Mike |
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roughneck
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: UK, Germany & USA
Vehicle(s): 270 cdi.300 GD 300 GE.lwb 300 GE.swb. Disco 2
Posts: 4398
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Flickering gauges can often be caused by the earth cluster under the rear door section. |
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Jonathan Joseph
Expert
Date registered: Oct 2006
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Vehicle(s): 2004 G55
Posts: 1538
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Roughneck,
Where exactly is that earth cluster under the back door?
Jonathan |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Hey Mike, Something occurred to me while looking at the picture. I seem to remember the roary switch having seaprate positions to iluminate left side only or right side only parking lights (standing lamps?). Is it possible the federalizer put the wires from both sides under one screw to avoid someone here in the US not used to such a feature leaving only one set on? Maybe one of the wires under that adjacent screw belongs on the missing one. Just a thought. -Dave G. PS- I hope the brown discoloration of the white wires is only from the aplication of the heat shrink at the connectors. PVC (most wiring insulation of that era) turns brown as it degrades from heat. Could be relays would help.
Edited by hipine 7/1/2007 6:36 PM
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Look over by where the hitch wiring connectors are. Just left of the hitch as you sit on the ground looking at the truck from the rear. |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| bad earth
How's your main grounding cable? It's supposed to daisy-chain from battery post, to the body grounding post on bottom of the battery tray, thence to a stud onteh chassis rail, and finally to one of the starter attaching bolts. Some times that last bit gets ratty from the flexing induced by motor rock, and being down in the grime. I also found I got rid of my temp gauge flutter when I ran a separate grounding wire from the head (there's a nice place for a bolt about 3/4 of the way back oalong the RHS next to the valve cover) straight to the battery ground. I figured that might be better than relying on the electrical path through the head bolts which might have sealant or corrosion impeding the path. It sure helped steady mine out. Mine used to do things like jump a little bit (and the fuel gauge too) with the turn signals, move when I turned on lights, etc. Fixing up the main ground wire and adding the head ground cured it for me. Good luck! -Dave G. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Older Wiring Diagram
Attached is an early 280GE wiring diagram. Not sure if it will apply to your truck; but here it is j-i-c.
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Old Wiring Diagram.pdf (143KB - 35 downloads)
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Dave, ironically I posted my flickering gauges/bad earth problem last year almost to the day, http://www.pointedthree.com/disc/forums/showthread.php?tid=2698&pos... All ground points/clusters have been cleaned and secured. The light switch does have left and right standing lamps and they are in working order. A test of terminal 5 showed it gets power when dial turned to first detent to the right or parking lamps. I left it as is. I did however find on the earth cluster 2 earth clusters of 5 wires each crimped together which did not look factory. I made 5 clusters of 2 and made a new cluster with an additional wire from battery negative and an additional earth wire from headlamp switch to this cluster mounted as Amzimmy did. (see bosch relay post).
Doing all of this FIXED my flickering gauges WHEN flashers/turn signals are on, BUT fuel and temp gauge still move about 6mm when headlamps are on.
I did notice that the main wire harness connections with the spade connectors ( of which you upgraded to Weatherpaks) seem kind of weathered.
I will try the extra wire to the head. The earth wire to battery negative post is all good/clean and secure to the three points with no corrosion.
The only thing I have not touched or looked at was the fuel gauge sender unit....I kind of hate messing with something that works perfect as far as actual fuel readings and low fuel light coming on (which it does when it gets low)
My dash wiring is all pretty much in order now which leaves me to do the following items this week with distant hope it will solve the problem....
1. Earth wire to head...as per your suggestion
2. Headlight relay upgrade
3. Weatherpack upgrade to harness under hood.
Thank you all for your help,
Mike
Edited by DesertStar 7/1/2007 10:31 PM
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
I also want to add that the gauges only flicker when headlights are on, or light switch all the way right....standing/parking lights either first position right or first or second position to the left have no effect. Is there a specific ground/earth for the headlamps only ?
fwiw, the ground wire to head had no effect. I tried several positions around the head as well.
Roughneck, I have the wiring diagram on the workshop manual...a bit difficult to read for me. Thanks.
Mike
Edited by DesertStar 7/1/2007 11:40 PM
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Hopefully this may be a clue to my problems. I pulled the light bucket out and found the "dreaded" scotchlok tap for the side marker lights. Also note that the ground wire goes to nothing. This little project is becoming as bad as replacing the wiper shafts ( I still have scars on my fat hands).
What is the best way to "tap" into the lighting system for the side markers ?....let me guess, run wires to the unused terminal 5 of my light switch?
Dave G, does the headlight relay upgrade have a provision for side marker connections ?
Mike
 (bucket (600 x 450).jpg)
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bucket (600 x 450).jpg (52KB - 12 downloads)
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dai
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
| Re: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
The headlights draw a lot of power compared to the parking light position. You have the quick and dirty fedralizer wiring hell that exists in a lot of 460's in the US I bet. My Blinkers on the wings have pretty funny creative wiring done by a federalizer. I think when you straighten out some of those custom wiring modifications you will get to cleaner power routing and solid grounds. Some of the guage quirkyness may just be the 460 'character'. My temp guage wanders around and seems to be affected when other electrics are engaged. I'll glance at it reading hotter than it should and give it a gentle tap and it drops back to "normal" for the way mine works. I really hate that feature. My solution there will be real guages that give some sort of actual temperature reading and oil pressure number.
-Dai |
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Thanks Dai, by the looks of it, if the new relay and Weatherpack upgrade doesnt do the trick, I will try something different next July  and concede to the ghost in the machine and live with it's character. Deja-vu. 
Mike |
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ArnoldRoss
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: South Africa (East London)
Vehicle(s): 1982 280GE SWB and 1982 300GD 3 Door LWB
Posts: 117
| Re: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Desert Star
I think that you are doing fine! Don't stop now! I'm sure that you will lick this evil thing living in your wiring! Just don't give up! I'm supporting you all the way!
Arnold
PS - I have exactly the same problem in my G. If you can solve this - mine would also be solved!!! LOL |
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Wow, a cheerleader from South Africa. I will press on with tester in one hand and new earth wire in the other. Thanks for the words of encouragement.
Mike |
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ArnoldRoss
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: South Africa (East London)
Vehicle(s): 1982 280GE SWB and 1982 300GD 3 Door LWB
Posts: 117
| Re: 280GE Headlamp switch wiring terminals...HELP
Thanks Mike!
It seems there is still some hope for me! I'm totally useless with electricity and I am so glad that someone else is doing the legwork on this one. I also have a 280 GE (1982) and like I said, the symptoms are exactly the same. I wonder if this is a G thing?
Something else that I have noticed is that my headlights are really quite horrible. I've added spot lights to improve the situation, but I'm wondering if the whole thing might not be related?
Arnold |
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