The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Finishing up a rewire....and some questions

Well, I'm tidying up after my complete rewire of my '66 C10. I've got some small problems that I've got to track down, probably mostly grounding problems, but who knows.

Anyway, I need some help with these 2 boxes that are located on the radiator support wall. Both are located next to the horn and behind the wiper/washer bottle. Can someone help me out? I know at least the small one had wires going to it before. But I don't have any spare wires, what am I missing?



The second pic is of the boxes prior to me starting the rewire....wires from everywhere, but none now. The only one that is still there, although not connected is the red wire as it comes directly off the battery.

Will wait for others to come on and tell you about the individual wiring, but you are dealing with the horn relay and the voltage regulator respectively.

Thanks Hambone. So, since I have a newer integrated alternator, does this mean that I no longer require the regulator?

As for the horn relay, I wonder if the hot wire should still go to the relay and the wire that I have going directly to the horn should go to the relay first?

No longer need voltage regulator. Did you record what came and went to the horn relay when you took it apart? Horn relay should have a signal wire from the horn button that would be small. Plus voltage from source and output to the horn itself should be larger wires. If the wires were cut, the remainder held in the wire crimps should give you a clue as to color and gauge. Red is normally used for source. A wire diagram from any similar age GM truck should apply.

Ed

In addition to the wire coming from the steering wheel, the relay requires a 12v hot wire from the battery or possibly the fuse box. It should be a larger wire like 12 gauge wire to power the horn. The relay also requires a ground.

Maybe a fellow “Bolter” can post a wiring diagram of your truck.

1. As said, take off the voltage regulator and all it's wires. Not used.

2. You can hook up your alternator as a one wire or a "three" wire. Three wire is better. Depends on what charging meter/indicator you have. (gauges or idiot lights). If you have questions about the alternator. Post the vendor and part number of it.

3. The horn relay is shown on the AAW wiring diagram. Wire it per the diagram. Observe the Red, the Green and the Black wires on the diagram. If you have any questions, I have the diagram and can answer them.

wiring diagram

Yes, it is useful to keep one eye on the original diagram while trying to follow the harness company's diagram and instructions. It this case regarding Alternator, VR and Horn Relay questions, it's better to follow the AAW diagram.

Jtroberts: Do you see the two blade contacts on the horn relay? The two are perpendicular to each other and are at the top in your pic. You should have a connector pig tail with a black and a green wire in the kit that should plug right onto those. The double screw, large terminal on the relay is for the red wire seen on the horn relay in the AAW diagram coming from the fuse panel. The screw terminal is also used as a "junction block" for other hot wires if needed. As you can see on the AAW diagram, the black comes/goes to the column connector and the green goes to the horn trumpet terminal. You probably have a single contact connector for that horn terminal.

Clean the contacts on your relay.

FIY: Most harness kits have the wire marked every foot or so as to what is is, along with the color. Sometimes individual wires for various uses and the small pigtail (harnesses) with connectors or sockets on one end, do not have markings stamped on them.

Thanks guys.

This is specifically in reference to the horn.
I've only got a dark green wire coming out of the firewall for the horn. The other wires per the AAW diagram are lt green, dk green and tan and an orange wire for an electric fan, which isn't currently used. There is no black or red wire, nor does it show it on the AAW diagram #500558.

I do have a red wire that goes straight to the battery that I have connected to the screw terminal. There is also a ground wire attached to the chassis for the horn relay. Both of these were there before I started.



A separate question, what is this in the pic below?

That looks like a relay.

If the Dark green wire coming out of the firewall is a AAW wire, it is on Sheet 1 of 500558 instructions. As per instructions, install terminal style "E" on to wire, snap it into connector "J" and plug it onto the terminal on the horn trumpet. Sheet 2 shows this Dark green wire coming out of the connector on the drivers side of firewall. (see conflict note below)

Now go to 500560 instructions for the other two wires. Find the relay on the diagram sheet 3. One is a black wire shown to/from the column connector. This goes up the column and to the upper mast bearing slip ring. you probably have to splice to that existing wire. This is the "trigger wire".

The other wire is the "Red Hot" battery supply wire. It is shown coming from the fuse panel. I assume you have a red wire coming out of the fuse panel you have not connected. The old red wire to the relay should be removed and replaced with the proper AAW wire.

Note: I may see a conflict with 500558 and 500560. Not sure yet, Did 500558 come inside the 500560 kit or was it purchased separately? Did you buy the kits or did they come with the truck? Was any of it already installed by someone?

That pic looks like a horn relay. The relay you want is here. Where did you get that relay?

Sure hope your battery negative cable is disconnected during all this.

Could that be a headlight relay?

Thanks Bartamos,

Yes, I bought the classic update kit #500560, and 500558 did come with the kit. The only thing I purchased outside of the kit was my dome light and a new turn signal switch/mechanism. None of it was installed by anyone other than myself. The only 'relay' that I received is the one I posted a pic of in the earlier post and that one came with the AAW kit, the relay that is on the radiator support wall is the one that was already on the truck.

I certainly do not have a red and/or black spare wire coming out of the firewall, and I don't believe there are any loose spare wires on the cab side either. Also, if you notice on sheet 3 (see pic) what they have listed as a horn relay in the diagram, I don't have that connector, I've looked long and hard for it, I'm guessing that is where the relay in question would have been attached. The only connector I have that resembles that one is the one for the ignition switch.

Hi Phil,
Thanks for piping in. I don't believe it's a headlight relay, simply because I have my headlights working fine, both hi/lo beam.

Jeff

1. Forget that relay they gave you.
2. You will not use that connector.
3. Buy the Relay I linked for you.
4. We will add a red wire when you get the relay.
5. We will find the black wire.
6. Do you see the green wire? It's OK if you don't find it, we will take care of that also.

Can you post a good pic or two of the connector at the column. The one seen on the right middle of 500560 instructions, sheet 3. Please take pics so I can see the wire and their colors going into it and coming out of it.

OK, after a call to AAW I was actually able to locate the connector for the relay, can't believe I was overlooking it. It has a red and black wire and the green wire goes out to horn. So it's basically just like the other (only different) and the relay is on the cab side of the firewall. Not quite able to test it all though because I don't have my steering wheel back on yet.