Hi Guys
I realize this will bar my membership in the know it all club but I'm at work away from any reference material and my truck is in NorCal. I remembered that as I was crawling around my truck the other day I came across this part hanging on the radiator support next to the A/C stuff and I have to admit, I can't remember ever seeing one before.
What is it?
I'll include the pic.

 

Maybe a 12v plug for a light? Thats weird looking. Im curious to find out what that is.

 

Its not a socket. There is a lense there kind of like a sensor. I'll add a couple more pics. They are fuzzy cause I was trying to get close.

 

Looks like it has a ford part number on the bracket! It isn't an old automatic headlight switch is it?

 

[QUOTE=Jetcopterpilot;10571158]Looks like it has a ford part number on the bracket! It isn't an old automatic headlight switch is it?[/QUOTE
LOL

 

Post the number. NumberDummy will tell us.

 

I would but I can't read it.
I have a feeling he'll know without needing a number.

 

Assuming you found this puppy on your 1974 F100 4WD...

D3TZ-15702-A .. Hood Compartment Lamp-includes mercury switch.

Parts catalog sez = Marked: D3TB-15702-AA, or AB; or D4TB-15702-AA

Shown here: 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog / Illustration Section 145, Page 13 (upper).

FTE member Mike0o0o0 has this catalog on a CD, can scan and posts pics.

Applications: 1973/75 F100/350. There are two others used 1976/79.

The pic is so fuzzy, no one on the planet could make out the ID engineering number marked on this puppy.

 

Yes sir you are correct
'74 F-100
So it's the switch for the hood lamp. Huh.
I'm amazed it's not mechanical. Was it an experiment?
Thanks Bill

 

Experiment? Ford used similar types since the 1950's, there are others that are similar that were used for the trunk compartment lamps on a gazillion Passenger Cars.

Ford offered at the parts counter, an accessory "univeral fitz-all" Engine Compartment/Trunk Compartment Lamp: C2RZ-15A700-A / Obsolete / Last MSRP: $11.43 / Dealer net cost: $8.00.

Carpenter sells this little darlin' .. it's listed in his car/truck repro parts catalogs @ $45.00 (outrageous!). There are 14 available NOS from FoMoCo Dealers/obsolete parts vendors.

 

But why is it on the radiator support. Is it optical or mercury. If it was mercury you would think it would be attached to the hood.

 

Mike scans/posts parts catalog pics every day, usually for the same peeps that are so cheap, they wouln't pay a nickel to watch an ant eat a bale a hay!

 

By experiment I meant did they try it for a while then give up on it.
But I guess not.
It just seems that a mechanical switch would be cheaper and easier for them.
I'm curious about the mercury question as mercury needs movement for the switch to work so why is it mounted on the radiator support.
I love finding out the history on these things.

 

Oops didn't get my reply in soon enough. Sorry.

 

Damn Bill,,, I'd pay GOOD money to watch an ant eat a bale of hay.... ;o) Man. that would be sompum to see.......