1973 Charger Wiring for dash

[irish_in_ny]

Hello everyone! I'm new here and this is my first post. I have a 1973 Dodge Charger with a Rallye instrument cluster. The problem is, the owner before myself had taken out all the wires (my guess is to change the bulbs) and he never put the wires into their correct places. Do question is, is there a way to put all of the wires back where they belong? He also took off the wires for the gas gauge, battery, oil life, and car temp so again, I do not know which one is which.

I know it says a colour on the back of the instrument cluster itself but there are so many orange, red wires that I just can't take a lucky guess. If anyone can help me, or give me some advice I would be thankful.

Thank You,
John

[Nacho-RT74]

there is just one tan, and one green with sockets and they are turning pilot lights. If its clock or tach cluster, right side indicator can be not labeled, but the other one yes, so by discard

oranges sockets can go anywhere the wires arrive. they are simply cluster ilumination. Normally the lenght will tell you where it goes. Play with them and will find out.

Red wire socket is high beams. Speedo top location. Is just one and as far I remember is also labeled.

There is just one two wires and plastic socket and is for the BRAKE indicator

gauges are labeled... violet temp, gray oil, blue gas.

ammeter... two eyelet terminals. red is labeled, the other one not... its an obvious discard

then the splicing wire from voltage limiter up to the unlabeled studs at gauges. Pretty much straight up.

two female plugs one wide the othe regular size. Wide female is limiter ground ( it has a prong at limiter bracket ). regular size is the positive source to limiter.

aaaand... thats all, nothing more left as far a remember. Nothing NASA science

EDITING... clock wire ( if equipped ) to black side ammeter stud... tach plugs on harness provisions, but one wire coming from bulkhead

[irish_in_ny]

Thank you very much for the reply. The car is in the shop right now and I'll try this when I get it back.
Mine does have a clock but it is not working. Any idea on what the problem could be?

Once again, thanks!

[Nacho-RT74]

it can be anything. I had once a stuck clock just for some oiling. Then the most tipical problem is the points stuck, getting shorted the solenoid coils.

here is how they work.

they are electro mechanical gauges. The electrical part just work for wind the mechanical part. Consits on a pair of points linked to the spring that when making contact causes an instant short winding it to make work the system. Points makes contact every 40 to 60 seconds.

I hope its kinda clear, English is not my mother language so quite often I can't find the right words to describe some tech stuff.

Being the electrical part the most problematic of this sistem, it is tipical being replaced by quartz aftermarket systems attached to the original facing and housing and pulling out

If you are courious enough you will be able to open the housing and find what it is actually the problem. Is not hard to try the open the rear section of the housing. just straightening somekind of tabs on back of the clock face.