1960 F100. All stock I believe. I replaced my headlight switch with a BWD s144. (cross reference shows ok, same pole positions/number etc. looks identical) Now my turn signals don't work, and curiously, when turn signal arm turned on, brake lights work only opposite side. I think I have installed the wrong headlight switch. I thought I saw a post on this issue somewhere when researching the headlight switch. Any ideas?

 

Could be several things. The turn signals get there power from the 7.5 amp fuse on the fuse panel you plugged your new headlight switch into, then they go thru the flasher on the way to the turn signal switch. Brakes lights also go thru the turn signal switch. You may get away with just taking it out and cleaning it up. Of course, you may well have some bad wires as well. Do you have a shop manual. They are worth there weight in gold!

paper version : 1960 Ford Truck Factory Shop Manual: F, B, C, P, and T Series

electronic type : http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/160866885410?lpid=82&chn=ps

 

Hmmm. Thanks. It seems unlikely that the turn signal switch suddenly became defective upon installation of the new headlight switch, but of course possible. Everything was working a-ok prior, except the instrument lights and dome light, which is why I replaced the headlight switch.
Now, brake lights work as they should except when turn signal lever activated (activate one way, opposite brake light only works), and turn signals don't work anytime.
I would agree turn signal switch would be likely culprit except for the fact it worked before, and I only replaced the headlight switch.

 

Does 60 have the same headlight switch as 59 ie two fuses on the back side of the switch? I know on the 59 the top fuse is the dome light and I thought the bottom fuse is the turn signals. been a while since I wired mine so I could be mistaken on the lower fuse.

 

As far as I recall the 60 switch is 60 only, been there done that years ago. I think a Falcon used the same switch. There are no replacements made that I know about..

 

C0DF-11654-C .. Head Lamp Switch / Obsolete

1960 F100/600 / 1960/61 Falcon/Comet.

NOS PARTS SOURCE in Olathe KS has 1 = 913-220-5746.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 1 = 800-543-4959.

PEROGIE ENTERPRISES in Highstown NJ has 1 = 609-448-5503.

OBSOLETE RELIABLE PARTS in Nashville GA has 2 = 229-686-5101.

 

Update: I found out that it isn't a headlight switch problem, its a fuse block issue. While checking current at the turn signal fuse the turn signals and brake light started working just fine. A little mysterious, but I'll take it. Thanks spurredon for the info. That really helped me narrow it down. I'll have to keep an eye on it to see if it stops working again, but at least I know where the issue is.


to 59 shorty: the 60 fuse block has 5 slots for fuses.

 

gotcha- thought I recalled a diffrence between 59 and 60.

 

Sounds like a pesky issue I have with My '59, I have both tail lights working but just RH turn signal and brake light

 

I found that all the electrical gremlins I had with brake lights sometimes working, turn signal lights sometimes working, dimness of the bulbs, were all tied directly to a dirty turn signal switch. Of course i looked everywhere else first - grounds, connections, bulbs, etc but found that i could get everything to work if i wiggled the stalk just enough.
I carefully took it apart by bending back the outer shell stamping's tabs and cleaned 55 years of crud out from between the (easily lost) springs, electrical connection stampings, and the slide plate. Brakes and turn signal lights work awesome now.


Nick in WI

 

Correct ops.
The filament, one of two in the bulb, is shared by the brake and turn lights; are brighter than the tail light, which is the other filament. It is supposed to be activated by one or the other source, not both brake AND turn. That's why the wire for brake lights goes via the turn switch, which disconnects the brake source while choosing the turn source.

 

The switches are 1960 only but Macs now has them, plus they turn up on ebay now and then.