Hi all,
I'm a new member, but I tried looking thru the posts for a thread on my question before posting. If I over looked it, please point it out for me as I'm not yet fully familar with this site.

I just acquired a 1964 F250, that's not in too bad of shape.

My brake lights don't work, and I can't locate a fuse panel anywhere in the typical places.

Does anyone know where/if it exists, or a wiring diagram available?

The brake light circuit looks unaltered except for where someone tried to splice in a 4-flat trailer pigtail. I have seperated all of the loose ends and know they aren't grounding it out.

Any info will be appreciated.
Thanks
Hwy51

 

First off, welcome aboard.

Secondly, on the 65's, the fuse panel us just up under the dash on the firewall to the left of the steering column, the 64 I think is the same. If your brake lights are not working, it may be the sending unit on the master cylinder. I usually start there to see if you are getting power in but applying the brakes does not complete the circuit.
--Mike

 

Welcome to FTE

1964: There are two possible locations for the fuse panel.

1) Mounted on the firewall adjacent to the steering column.

2) Attached to the headlamp switch, contains 5 glass fuses.

Remove the battery cable for safety...if in this location.

The stoplamp switch is pressure activated, threads directly to the front of the master cylinder, or to a brass fitting in this location.

Clean the taillamp bulb sockets, they are prolly badly corroded.

 

Don't know if your truck runs or not, but the brake lights won't work unless the key is on. Turn the key to the on position and see if you are getting power to the pressure activated switch by the master cylinder. If you are getting power to the switch, the switch is probably bad. Bridge the 2 wires going to the switch and if the brake lights come on, you'll have your answer.

 

I've never heard of any such thing as the key having to be on in order for the brake lights to work, that's ridiculous.

FoMoCo would not have wired the system this way, due to safety concerns.

If you have to turn the key to get the brake lights to work, a previous owner wired the truck this way, not FoMoCo.

I owned a 1965 F100 for 44 years, the brake lights worked when you stepped on the pedal...key off...or on.

 

66f-100, I guess your truck and the last four slick that I have owned were altered by the PO. All of mine have to have the ignition either to "on" or "acc" to get the brakes and turn signals to work. I tow a drift boat pretty often and check the lights every time I take her on the road. We must look pretty rediculous. Steve

 

Yours is wired wrong Bud. Bill is right.

 

I haven't seen any alterations to the original wiring and apparently my truck is not the only one that operates this way.

 

The switch has to be turned on for the turn signals, but not for the headlamps, taillamps...or the brake lights.

There is no way that FoMoCo would wire a vehicle like this...it makes absolutely no sense, and it would be a safety issue.

If it makes no sense, it isn't true. I've owned dozens of 1960's Ford's, not one had to have the key on for the brake lights to work.

 

Bill, We had that very discussion here about a month ago. I said the switch had to be on for brake lights to work, you argued another long post no.

I just when out to my 66 and checked it. There is no fire to the brake light switch with the ignition switch turned off. Turn the ign sw on my test bulb lights, off and it goes out.

Don't know west coast trucks, but I had always thought that was the case.

When the truck in not in service there is no need for power to be at the brake light switch.

Don't argue that mine is modified, while that is correct the wires were pulled back into the cab from out on the firewall and re-used as prior.





John

 

Just went out and checked my 64 1/2 ton.The brake lights work with the ignition off,no key even.I know my truck is 100% original wiring and is a west coast truck.

 

When rigs came out with 4 way flashers back in the day they and the brake lights worked with the key off. Had to then. I remember several rigs from the 50's and 60's (before flashers) that I had and if the brake peddle stuck the battery was dead in the morning. I don't think the left or right coast had anything to do with it. But for as long as I can think back whether it was in one of my commercial shops or privet rig it was always assumed the brake lights worked with the key off. When checking out or trouble shooting a Customers rig it was standerd to check the lights with the key off than with the key on.
And turn sigs is what we turned the key on for. I can walk out to any rig on the claim and regardless to make creed or color the brake lights come on when ya mash the peddle with the key off. Sorry but yer truck is wired wrong if it don't. Well maybe not wrong but different for sure. Ya just got to move one wire on the switch to change it. And if ya ever crossed up plug wires replacing them who's to say a switch could have been wired wrong when it was changed. Ya may never notice it till ya went looking for it cuz it would still work fine. So that's my story an I am sticking to it.

 

I'm with Artic, the majority of the vehicles I've ever seen or worked on that the key had to be on for the brake lights to work have been foreign rigs.
This includes my current '61 F100(as well as the other '61 I had a few years back), my wife's '95 Jeep, my '96 Crown Vic, and all 3 of my Harleys.
In the last 4 1/2 years I've been working at the restoration shop, I can't remember one car I worked on except a Mercedes that needed the key on for the brake lights to work, and it also includes the brand spankin' new '11 Camaro I drove this afternoon, the '08 Mustang I did an alignment on yesterday and every vehicle I've owned since I got my license in '68.
Granted I haven't had 387 different cars over the years, but still, the key-on brake light thing is not the norm for American rigs.

 

Maybe something wears out in the ignition switch after 44 years that would cause the brake lights not to work with the key off. I agree that it doesn't make sense but that's the way mine operates and I can't see any modifications to the wiring. On a side note, I went out to the garage and checked my '59 Cadillac convertible and it operates the same way, no brake lights when the key is in the off position.

 

As ArticYblock mentioned,someone could have replaced the switch before you got the truck and flip flopped the wires.Don't know.