Welcome to the CJ-3B Bulletin Board, the discussion forums section of the website CJ3B.info. Everyone is invited to view the postings here, but you must register as a member in order to post messages. The moderator reserves the right to remove items posted. Items may be archived in the Tech Tips section of the website. If you post a tech problem, please follow up by posting the solution when it is found, as it may be useful to other readers. For forums covering other Jeep models, see the bottom of this page.
Search for keywords or phrases anywhere in the CJ-3B Bulletin Board using Google. Enter key words here.
| You're currently viewing the forums as a guest. This means there are some features you can't use. If you register, you'll be able to post messages and use member-only features such as customizing your profile and sending personal messages. Registration is simple and free. Join the CJ-3B Bulletin Board! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| electrical wiring; labeling and figuring out wiring | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 9 2013, 08:03 AM (1,057 Views) | |
| JROD CJ53 | Sep 9 2013, 08:03 AM Post #1 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
On my 53 3B the PO had removed some of the wiring and left others in place. most of my wiring harness is in place, all of my dash gauges work. At my fuse block on the drivers side wirewall, all the wires were cut. I have a few wiring diagrams, but I'm not 100 percent on hooking everything up correctly. I have labeled everything I can figure out so far. Most of my issue is figuring out which wires go where on the fuse block, and the wiring for the front lights. I have wires going to the the terminal block, but nothing going from that to the headlights or parking/turn signals. Also all the wires coming out of the fire wall to the headlights, and for the horn are all the same color, white. Is this normal? Does anyone have any pictures, or diagrams of the order of wires going thru the fuse block. Thank you |
| 1953 CJ3B/F134 rebuilt with 6000 miles/ Dana 25 front, 44 rear/ T90, Spicer18/ YF 938SD/12V conversion . Tarpon Springs FL | |
![]() |
|
| JROD CJ53 | Sep 9 2013, 08:21 AM Post #2 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
Also, when putting the headlights, and parking lamps into the grille, does anyone have the size screws or bolts that go into the grille? thank you. |
| 1953 CJ3B/F134 rebuilt with 6000 miles/ Dana 25 front, 44 rear/ T90, Spicer18/ YF 938SD/12V conversion . Tarpon Springs FL | |
![]() |
|
| jyotin | Sep 9 2013, 02:26 PM Post #3 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
There was no fuse block in a stock 3B. It isn't really all that hard to figure out. Coming through the firewall going forward to the lights there needs to be the following: wire from headlight switch left turn signal right turn signal parking lights horn tell tale light wire Wire from headlight switch goes to the dimmer switch. two wires from dimmer switch - one for high beams and one for low beams. Usually these wires are terminated at a terminal strip and further connected to the headlights Wire for parking lights goes to terminal strip and further to the parking lights Wire for each turn signal goes to a connector which then takes it to each parking light turn filament. Horn wire goes to horn and the wire from the horn goes up through the steering tube to the horn button Tell tale wire is connected to the dimmer switch high beam connection. Knowing that you can test with a voltmeter which of the wires comes on when the headlight switch is pulled to the first notch -- that'll be the parking lights Pull the switch all the way out and the wire that gets 12 volts is the headlight wire that goes to the dimmer switch. Same test with turn signals, except that the 12 volts will probably be constant and not pulsing since there isn't the correct load on the flasher with the front lights disconnected. That'll leave you with the horn and tell tale light. The horn wire will always have 12 volts on it and it cannot be turned off unless you disconnect the battery. The horn wire will also be the largest gauge of the bunch. The tell tale light wire will be the smallest gauge wire of the bunch -- or in this case, the only wire left over after the others have been determined. You could also put a 12 volt signal on that wire and see if the tell tale light comes on. |
|
It's just my luck that something good is going to happen to me today. 54 - 3B - down on the farm 67 - cj6 - former state of Alabama vehicle ?? - cj5 T98a - made from spare parts - Ford tractor blue ?? - cj5 T98a - made from spare parts - Jeep green | |
![]() |
|
| Larry (TX) | Sep 9 2013, 02:42 PM Post #4 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
J, vintage jeeps of that era did not have firewall mounted *fuse blocks, thus some previous owner has most likely added one to the jeep, making it nearly impossible to determine which wire goes to which terminal on the block you have; (chances could be that the block was installed, but never wired up, the reason wires leading from the block appear to have been cut). The block could be an after market product, but because it has wires already, it may be a take-out from a salvaged vehicle. If you're going to try to re-use that block, you're more than likely going to have to start from scratch and make your own diagram, then attach the wires according to that drawing. *Early CJ2A's, 3A's and your '53 3B would have had a single fuse only attached at the rear terminal side of the headlight switch. |
|
Larry Steed Pearland, Texas '53 Willys CJ3B '52 Willys M38 '86 Chevy M1009 CUCV (K5 4x4 Military Blazer) M100 1/4 ton jeep trailer M416 1/4 ton jeep trailer (2 ea.) M101 CDN 1/4 ton jeep trailer | |
![]() |
|
| Don | Sep 10 2013, 07:34 PM Post #5 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
For mounting to the grille, the headlights use a total of 8, No. 10 x 3/8" sheet metal screws with lockwashers. The parking lights use a total of 4, 10-32 nuts and lockwashers. The studs are attached to the original parking light fixtures. |
|
Don Norris Southeast, NC 1953 CJ3B 1959 Jeep Pickup 195? M100 trailer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The trail never ends ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If lovin' Jeeps is wrong, I don't wanta be right. | |
![]() |
|
| Larry (TX) | Sep 10 2013, 09:36 PM Post #6 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
Forgot to mention this J, but I suggest you use all stainless hardware (screws, washers, nuts, bolts and locks) when re-installing the lamp assemblies back onto the grill - you'll be most happy you did so if you ever need to remove the items in the future, and better yet, the hardware always looks nice and doesn't rust! |
|
Larry Steed Pearland, Texas '53 Willys CJ3B '52 Willys M38 '86 Chevy M1009 CUCV (K5 4x4 Military Blazer) M100 1/4 ton jeep trailer M416 1/4 ton jeep trailer (2 ea.) M101 CDN 1/4 ton jeep trailer | |
![]() |
|
| JROD CJ53 | Sep 11 2013, 07:38 AM Post #7 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
Thank you. I looked at the fuse block and nothing for the lighting it hooked into it. after looking at my harness, there are five extra wires that do not have a "home" I took off my my light switch and found all the wires connected, I believe properly. None of my lights are connected to tell, but I just want to label all the wires so when I get ot that point I know which one goes where. On another link on the CJ3B page there is a wiring harness layout that is not meeting up with what I have. I believe this is for a newer wiring harness. it mentions a spartan switch. Can anyone tell me what that is? Also what does the tell tale light do? I have an extra red wire, 2 extra green wires and 2 extra yellow wires. Does this sound correct? My wiring harness has all the wires in the cloth colored wires wrapped in electrical tape. I had to peel some of this back to determine the wire colors. |
| 1953 CJ3B/F134 rebuilt with 6000 miles/ Dana 25 front, 44 rear/ T90, Spicer18/ YF 938SD/12V conversion . Tarpon Springs FL | |
![]() |
|
| steve | Sep 11 2013, 04:39 PM Post #8 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
the spartan switch is a turn signal switch .I think the 5 wires you mention go to this switch and are probably for the brake light and front and rear turn signals on the spartan sw. there will be 7 wires the other 2 will go to the flasher and it is grounded to the steering column . the tell tale light is your high beam indicator. Hope this helps Steve |
|
54 CJ3B ~ up and running ~ Tiger Top installed Suffern,NY | |
![]() |
|
| JROD CJ53 | Sep 12 2013, 12:36 PM Post #9 |
|
Member
![]() ![]()
|
Thank you steve. That does make sense. I have the turn signal, and it is not hooked up at all. Thank you to everyone who repied. I kind of answered my own question. I mentioned that I cut some of the electrical tape back under the dash to reveal the wire colors, and as I typed it I thought, well the wires in the engine compartment may have faded due to the heat. I peeled back some tape in the engine side and found all the colors. I kinda felt dumb and proud of myself at the same time ha ha ha. Thanks again. |
| 1953 CJ3B/F134 rebuilt with 6000 miles/ Dana 25 front, 44 rear/ T90, Spicer18/ YF 938SD/12V conversion . Tarpon Springs FL | |
![]() |
|
| « Previous Topic · CJ-3B Posts · Next Topic » |



![]](http://z4.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)



7:24 PM Jul 10