cab light question
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Roseville CA
cab light question
I just got cab or "recon" lights for my truck. Drilled holes, installed the lights in to the top of the truck like I'v seen before. The one wire that comes down from the light is run from the passengers side to drivers side. I spliced all the wires to one red wire that runs from the left side to the right. I tried testing the wires directly to the positive on the battery and nothing.... Im stuck and dont know what to do. The lights have only one wire coming down. The ground is the screw that installs the light. Thats screwed directly into the top of the cab. What gives? I thought to check it directly to the battery would turn them on, but nothing, No spark either.
Can anybody help?
Can anybody help?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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Yes....
other quick test is take a piece of long wire and go from negative battery post and touch other end to the screw in the light that goes into body and have your red wire on positive.
If that works then you cab is probably no longer grounded to chassis....
other quick test is take a piece of long wire and go from negative battery post and touch other end to the screw in the light that goes into body and have your red wire on positive.
If that works then you cab is probably no longer grounded to chassis....
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
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From: Sand Lake, MI
Did you run the red wire or was it already there?
Cab marker light wire from the switch is brown, ground wire should be black. Ground "F" behind bottom of left cowl panel (Ground location might vary dependent on model year but didn't look).
Regardless of your wire color, other then wondering what you tapped into if you didn't run the wire, doubt you have a proper ground like that.
Cab marker light wire from the switch is brown, ground wire should be black. Ground "F" behind bottom of left cowl panel (Ground location might vary dependent on model year but didn't look).
Regardless of your wire color, other then wondering what you tapped into if you didn't run the wire, doubt you have a proper ground like that.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Which model is it?
On an 88 F350 there are 2 wires to each light. I installed a totally new set of lights. Discovered the Stock ford lights are available from Ryder Fleet Sales for less than $5. each. Perfect fit and color no new holes or additional wiring.
The lights are driven from the tail light light circuit on the light switch. So check your tail lights and make sure you did not blow a fuse. Some trucks have cab light relays but the 88 F350 does not.
Our light switch had a burned out tail light circuit from running the old cab lights. Some had installed the wrong bulbs.
On an 88 F350 there are 2 wires to each light. I installed a totally new set of lights. Discovered the Stock ford lights are available from Ryder Fleet Sales for less than $5. each. Perfect fit and color no new holes or additional wiring.
The lights are driven from the tail light light circuit on the light switch. So check your tail lights and make sure you did not blow a fuse. Some trucks have cab light relays but the 88 F350 does not.
Our light switch had a burned out tail light circuit from running the old cab lights. Some had installed the wrong bulbs.
Last edited by oleman; Nov 22, 2010 at 09:26 PM. Reason: I ment Ryder
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From: Roseville CA
I bought the model that has one black wire that comes down thru the liner. Im assuming thats the positive. The ground is a screw that fastens the top part of the lights. there is a metal piece the srew goes thru and that metal screw drills into the liner for ground.
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From: Graniteville
Do a basic electrical trouble shooting with a multi-meter.
- check power on the lead wire you put in, where it connects to the the light, using a known good ground, (run a wire out to the battery ground) if it fails, you have a bad power lead.
- check power on the lead, using one of the screws as a ground, if it fails here, you have a bad ground connection either on the screw to the cab, or the cab to frame.
- If it passes those two tests, set the meter to read resistance, and check between the ground connection on the light and the body. (possibly a coated screw, or bad light assembly)
- Check the socket for a good connection on the end of it where the ground and power come in.
- And don't forget to check and make sure the bulbs themselves are good.
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