Hey there! I posted before but I decided to make videos of my van adventures! Maybe it will be easier to ask for help this way! FYI sorry the mic picked up my scarf scratching against it lol.

https://youtu.be/3pUHs-vj6iQ

I've already done some stuff since this video, so I'm going to make a new one today for some repairs I'm doing! I'll start a thread so you can follow to journey of a girls first vehicle project lol. Try not to laugh to hard.

 

Love it!

That interior,, I'd try and re duplicate it! They sure had some style back in the day.

One the parasitic draw, of course any interior lighting, or add in conversion items, but sometimes the glove box lamp gets overlooked. Also, put your hand on the alternator on a cold engine, feel warm at all?
You can remove any questionable power distribution points by removing a fuse at a time and monitor the draw on the battery. Do you have a DVOM? Digital volt/ ohm meter..

IP lighting.. Any of them work? If not make sure it's not the headlamp switch dimmer function.

When replacing the IP lamps, battery disconnected, you may want to just lower the forward column. No need to remove it. Just remove the dress cover and the forward column mount bolts once exposed. The column will drop down a few inches or so and hang unsupported for the most part. All the IP trim screws, cluster attachment screws as well. The speedo cable connector is a bit of a reach, just a plastic clip that requires the tab pulled back towards the speedo for a release. And of course the harness connection. Been a lot of years, not sure if removing the left panel was of help for access. Be careful when moving or rotating the cluster during removal so not to damage the printed circuit board on the back of the cluster.

 

WOW! Thank you SO MUCH FOR THE INFO! FYI I have purchased a Haynes Full Size Ford Van manual (74-99).

Since this video I have replaced the battery terminal(s) [heads? mounts? the metal bit that attaches to posts], replaced the oil filter and oil, and I did pull the cluster finally but I couldn't even pull it out a tiny bit really - It has like, a large plastic casing on the back of it and it took me almost an hour to get the screws off (dont ask, I didn't want to break anything lol... much cursing happened...) so I kind of gave up. Its kinda parked for a while so I put the screw kinda back in and Ill try again shortly!

I filmed my battery terminal replacement and some other things I did (installed battery mount, etc) but OF COURSE on the day I had to film and fix the van it got down to horribly cold, the wind got INSANE, and it started to rain, so something that should have taken me like 5 mins ended up taking ALL DAY!

I will definitely be trying the left IP removal tip. The manual I got was just for Ford Full sizes in a set date range anyway so it didn't have that there but I couldn't see underneath or behind the IP weird casing and I didn't want to YANK anything hahahaha. I found a... Its just like, an old round tipped piece of metal, and it has wooden dowel handle, "for poking" - I call it "the pokin thingy", and Ill be using that to CAREFULLY remove the headlight pressure clip thing, so there's that.

I feel accomplished. So far before this I could change a battery and a tire, and tell you from various sounds what was WRONG with people's vehicles, but not how to fix them lol.

Its coming along! Might tackle fuel filter next and definitely getting voltmeter!

 

On your projects, if you can post cell phone images prior/ during the work it would be a big help, like we're looking over your shoulder.. :-)

 

You got it! Ill definitely be doing that from now on!