Am I understanding this about charging car batteries correctly? - Page 2 - Gas Savers

**Jay2TheRescue** · 06-13-2011, 10:20 AM

If you posted a pic of your fuse block with all the stuff plugged in I could tell you.

theclencher · 06-13-2011, 01:31 PM

If you put as much effort into simply remembering to shut them off, it wouldn't be an issue. Kinda reminds me of a time way back in school, when once I contemplated cheating on a "hard" test by making some micronotes to refer to during the test. In the process of making those notes I discovered that I'd learned the material anyway.

~~imzjustplayin~~ · 06-13-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theclencher

If you put as much effort into simply remembering to shut them off, it wouldn't be an issue. Kinda reminds me of a time way back in school, when once I contemplated cheating on a "hard" test by making some micronotes to refer to during the test. In the process of making those notes I discovered that I'd learned the material anyway.

Did the same thing several times, except the teacher allowed us to write all of this stuff on a single note card on both sides but as you said, the act of writing down all of that stuff helped me learn the information for the test, kinda sorta negating the benefit of having that "cheat sheet"..

**theholycow** · 06-13-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theclencher

If you put as much effort into simply remembering to shut them off, it wouldn't be an issue. Kinda reminds me of a time way back in school, when once I contemplated cheating on a "hard" test by making some micronotes to refer to during the test. In the process of making those notes I discovered that I'd learned the material anyway.

I do. Ever since that one time that I somehow failed to remember, I decided to hang a small flashlight on the headlight knob. When I turn the headlights on, I move the flashlight to the door handle. If I forget, I see the flashlight or it falls off the door handle when I open the door; then I remember. Also, it's quite convenient to have a small flashlight around and that's a nice way to store it.

A buzzer would still be nice. A little luxury won't hurt me. I've put plenty of other efforts into this car, what's a few minutes of wiring going to hurt? Unlike simply remembering to turn the lights off, I will learn something by fixing or installing the buzzer.

**Jay2TheRescue** · 06-13-2011, 05:24 PM

I certainly learned a lot when I removed the key in/seat belt buzzer on Rusty (86 Chevy C-10) and replaced it with a chime unit from a 1980 Buick Century. After examining how it was wired up in the Century, and how the chime was wired in my 81 Regal I was able to retrofit the chime unit into my 86 Chevy pickup with ease. Now, I am willing to share this information I have learned with others.

**theholycow** · 06-14-2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

If you posted a pic of your fuse block with all the stuff plugged in I could tell you.

Any guess what the orange plug with the white wire is? It was unplugged until recently when I finally found the keyed slot where it fits. I haven't noticed any difference.

https://picasaweb.google.com/fistula...57956937718402

**Jay2TheRescue** · 06-14-2011, 08:36 AM

I don't know what the orange plug is, do you have a better shot of the grey box on the left edge of the photo? If that box has a grey wire coming out of the side then its a chime unit with headlight reminder.

**theholycow** · 06-14-2011, 09:53 AM

I have a better picture. I think there is no wire.

https://picasaweb.google.com/fistula...03876189461442

**bobc455** · 06-14-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theholycow

Any guess what the orange plug with the white wire is?

Looks like something aftermarket. Alarm? Remote start? Amp? Solar battery recharger?

**theholycow** · 06-14-2011, 11:14 AM

There's no aftermarket anything in the car that I did not install. That connector is keyed, I doubt anything aftermarket could come with one like it. Finally, it's wrapped up in the OEM harness like the rest of the OEM wires.

Factory service manual, Alldata, Mitchell, Haynes, and Chilton all failed to help me figure it out.

**Jay2TheRescue** · 06-14-2011, 11:14 AM

No, that's factory. I know I've seen those plugged into my fuse blocks before, I just never needed to mess with them. The wiring harnesses of those cars were universal. You had wiring for almost every option, even when you purchased a base model vehicle. For example, I can upgrade my Regal's wipers to intermittent wipers by simply replacing the dashboard switch and replacing the wiper motor with one for a car with delay. Its probably there to power something that your car does not have. My only other thought, is that the wire is the right color (I think)... Does your lighter socket work when that is disconnected?

**Jay2TheRescue** · 06-14-2011, 11:17 AM

I believe what you have is the basic key in/seat belt warning buzzer. An upgrade to the chime/headlight warning module should be pretty simple.

**theholycow** · 06-14-2011, 11:27 AM

Hah! You know, that connector might just be the cigarette lighter. Mine is missing because I need to repair the tray (and anyway the stick shift makes it less accessible) and I installed two better ones elsewhere...so I wouldn't know if it was unplugged or not. I'll have to check that out.

Speaking of wipers, I bought the last new intermittent wiper switch available for my car in the whole world (

). I thought I'd just plug it in and be done, but you think I need the appropriate wiper motor too? I haven't tried yet.

**Jay2TheRescue** · 06-14-2011, 12:13 PM

Yes, the delay circuit is integrated in the wiper motor. If the wiper motor had previously been replaced, its possible you might have one with a delay circuit in it, but chances are you don't have the proper unit.

**theholycow** · 06-30-2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theholycow

Any guess what the orange plug with the white wire is? It was unplugged until recently when I finally found the keyed slot where it fits. I haven't noticed any difference.

https://picasaweb.google.com/fistula...57956937718402
[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5BaI1E46myc/TfdZ8jLUWoI/AAAAAAAAADQ/WsnZevdiWpY/s800/IMG_6691.JPG[IMG]

I figured it out. When that's plugged in, my amber turn signal lights also act as brake lights. They behave exactly as the combined turn/brake lights on cars with no amber rear turn signals would behave. I guess the plug is part of the universal wiring harness for cars equipped both ways. It must have been taped or zip-tied up under the dash and I dislodged it when I did my big project, resulting in me wondering what it belongs to.

That's good to know. In the future I can use that for hooking up a trailer instead of having to wire in an electronic adapter box.