Hello, I recently bought my first classic, a 1965 mustang coupe. Let me start by saying I am no mechanic but am fairly "handy." I have been going through the ritual of finding and trying to fix the little surprises that came with the car. I noticed today that while the car is running, if I change gears, 289 2v w/3 spd auto, while being grounded to the frame I feel a tingly, shock sensation.

A lot of the wiring under the dash has been cut, spliced, rerouted, etc. The shifter light is working but the dash lights do not. Any idea where to begin looking? Any helps appreciated.

Joe

 

Welcome.

I'd start by looking at the wiring diagrams listed in the FAQs.

1965 Mustang Wiring and Vacuum Diagrams

 

Those look very helpful, thanks.

 

Can you get a voltage and resistance reading from ground to handle?

 

where exactly do you feel this? at shifter handle? you say while being grounded. do you mean the engine is grounded?

 

I will try and get some actual voltage readings when I get home tonight.

I wasn't feeling the shock at the handle actually but when I was grabbing the metal part of the armrest I felt it there, but only when shifting between gears, it goes away when the shifter is actually in gear.

Thanks

 

maybe related to neutral safety switch? disconnect the switch and isolate the cables connecting to it after you started it, to see if that makes a difference. don't drive around, just try the different gears

 

with you dash lights try turning the head light **** very slowly and see if they come on, mine is very finicky, the switch has to be just right or they dont come on

 

and check that the engine is properly grounded. seen plenty of cars, especially the ones with battery relocation who didn't have a ground strap to engine and pulled ground through clutch pedals or exhaust and crap like that

 

The only thing with enough volts (im guessing several thousand at very low amps) to feel is from the ignition system and the source of that high voltage (30 to 50 thousand volts) is the coil. Perhaps the coil lead is leaking and its jumping to the frame.

Tonight start the car and use a spary bottle and tap water. use a mist or fog setting (no stream) Hold the bottle about a foot away from the coil and fog the water around the coil enough so everything gets wet and move along the plug wires look to see if any of the lightning inside the coil and wires jumps out to the nearest ground. If yes replace all wires.

Also +1 on having an engine to chassis ground strap.

-Gun