Electrical woes
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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Electrical woes
Hey guys,
I've been driving my 84 Ford F250 quite a bit lately. Yesterday the speakers on my radio were working great and then I hit a bump and they stopped working, but the radio was still on. Today I went out and thought that the headunit (aftermarket JVC) was loose on the speaker connections, I checked those and they tested out good. I then went ahead and pulled my stereo just to see what was going on. I put the stereo back in and now the stereo won't turn on. The stereo is wired directly into the battery, while the speakers are also hard wired (until I find what my radio connector codes are).
I also noticed that my lights (low beams) don't work, but my park lights, brakes and turns work. I can turn my brights on and they work good.
I also noticed a weird wiring issue where if I am running a powerpoint in the 12v socket I get weird back feed through my radio that changes with the acceleration/noise of the motor.
Anyway I checked about everything that I could and found nothing on my check list.
I've been driving my 84 Ford F250 quite a bit lately. Yesterday the speakers on my radio were working great and then I hit a bump and they stopped working, but the radio was still on. Today I went out and thought that the headunit (aftermarket JVC) was loose on the speaker connections, I checked those and they tested out good. I then went ahead and pulled my stereo just to see what was going on. I put the stereo back in and now the stereo won't turn on. The stereo is wired directly into the battery, while the speakers are also hard wired (until I find what my radio connector codes are).
I also noticed that my lights (low beams) don't work, but my park lights, brakes and turns work. I can turn my brights on and they work good.
I also noticed a weird wiring issue where if I am running a powerpoint in the 12v socket I get weird back feed through my radio that changes with the acceleration/noise of the motor.
Anyway I checked about everything that I could and found nothing on my check list.
Last edited by ctubutis; Jul 30, 2011 at 04:35 PM. Reason: Fixed spelling in title, looked too much like "ladies of the evening" ;)
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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Likes: 2,741
From: Virginia
For the headlights, that's probably the dimmer switch in the floor. Your radio may have a grounding problem,. especially if you just stuck it back in the hole with no bolts to the case. The bad ground is also probably the cause of the noise in the radio. I would bolt a wire to the case of the radio, and then bolt the other end to a good metal ground under the dash somewhere.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
For the headlights, that's probably the dimmer switch in the floor. Your radio may have a grounding problem,. especially if you just stuck it back in the hole with no bolts to the case. The bad ground is also probably the cause of the noise in the radio. I would bolt a wire to the case of the radio, and then bolt the other end to a good metal ground under the dash somewhere.
Anyway back on subject. I pulled the radio and got it working again, I disconnected the actual ground on the radio harness and hardwired it into the metal dash brackets, good there. I also pulled my left speaker wires and re did that. I'm not sure if it matters but I used a light up tester and tested the left wires coming from the harness and they didn't light up. Gonna try again tomorrow on this little deal.
The floor switch still no dice, I get lights when I hit the floor dimmer switch which is brand new, but on the last pull of the actual headlight switch I have no problems except for what I am assuming is my low beams.
I will go ahead and rectify this ground issue on the radio case just incase I somehow lost a chassis ground or something and it is causing all the issues.
In any case, I'm off for the day need to rest up after the bad day and prepare for a month of hell cutting wheat.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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I went out today and messed around with the radio no dice. I think this one will be taking a trip to JVC repair. According to the tech it sounds like a blown internal amp, how that happened I have no clue.
On another note, I installed a brand new battery less than a month old and it has been going dead on me. Last night when I pulled the radio I left it unhooked and today the battery was dead. It helped to eliminate one culprit from the fuse issue.
On another note, I installed a brand new battery less than a month old and it has been going dead on me. Last night when I pulled the radio I left it unhooked and today the battery was dead. It helped to eliminate one culprit from the fuse issue.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Anyway back on subject. I pulled the radio and got it working again, I disconnected the actual ground on the radio harness and hardwired it into the metal dash brackets, good there. I also pulled my left speaker wires and re did that. I'm not sure if it matters but I used a light up tester and tested the left wires coming from the harness and they didn't light up. Gonna try again tomorrow on this little deal.
The floor switch still no dice, I get lights when I hit the floor dimmer switch which is brand new, but on the last pull of the actual headlight switch I have no problems except for what I am assuming is my low beams.
If no power, check the Red/black wire at the dimmer switch. You can use a jumper wire to jump the Red/Yellow wire and Red/Black wires together for a test. If your lowbeam headlamps come on, then it's the dimmer switch. If they don't then it's a wiring problem. Red/Black wire.
I will go ahead and rectify this ground issue on the radio case just incase I somehow lost a chassis ground or something and it is causing all the issues.
In any case, I'm off for the day need to rest up after the bad day and prepare for a month of hell cutting wheat.
In any case, I'm off for the day need to rest up after the bad day and prepare for a month of hell cutting wheat.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
There may not be enough electricity to turn a light bulb on from the radio speaker wires. Test speaker wires using a multimeter set to ohms, and check the continuity with the speakers and radio connectors removed.
With your test light, or multimeter, check the headlamp connector where it plugs into the headlight. Red/black wire. If you have power at the connector at that wire, (with the headlamp switch in the on position, and the dimmer switch in the lowbeam mode) change your headlights and/or check the ground wire. If no power go on to next step.
If no power, check the Red/black wire at the dimmer switch. You can use a jumper wire to jump the Red/Yellow wire and Red/Black wires together for a test. If your lowbeam headlamps come on, then it's the dimmer switch. If they don't then it's a wiring problem. Red/Black wire.
Bad grounds can cause all sorts of weirdness. There should be an electrical noise supressor on the radio. The 12V cigar lighter does not have any radio suppression at all, as it was only designed to light cigars or cigarettes for a short period. So this might be a problem you can't fix without modification or adding aftermarket suppressors to the cigar lighter circut.
With your test light, or multimeter, check the headlamp connector where it plugs into the headlight. Red/black wire. If you have power at the connector at that wire, (with the headlamp switch in the on position, and the dimmer switch in the lowbeam mode) change your headlights and/or check the ground wire. If no power go on to next step.
If no power, check the Red/black wire at the dimmer switch. You can use a jumper wire to jump the Red/Yellow wire and Red/Black wires together for a test. If your lowbeam headlamps come on, then it's the dimmer switch. If they don't then it's a wiring problem. Red/Black wire.
Bad grounds can cause all sorts of weirdness. There should be an electrical noise supressor on the radio. The 12V cigar lighter does not have any radio suppression at all, as it was only designed to light cigars or cigarettes for a short period. So this might be a problem you can't fix without modification or adding aftermarket suppressors to the cigar lighter circut.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
There may not be enough electricity to turn a light bulb on from the radio speaker wires. Test speaker wires using a multimeter set to ohms, and check the continuity with the speakers and radio connectors removed.
With your test light, or multimeter, check the headlamp connector where it plugs into the headlight. Red/black wire. If you have power at the connector at that wire, (with the headlamp switch in the on position, and the dimmer switch in the lowbeam mode) change your headlights and/or check the ground wire. If no power go on to next step.
If no power, check the Red/black wire at the dimmer switch. You can use a jumper wire to jump the Red/Yellow wire and Red/Black wires together for a test. If your lowbeam headlamps come on, then it's the dimmer switch. If they don't then it's a wiring problem. Red/Black wire.
Bad grounds can cause all sorts of weirdness. There should be an electrical noise supressor on the radio. The 12V cigar lighter does not have any radio suppression at all, as it was only designed to light cigars or cigarettes for a short period. So this might be a problem you can't fix without modification or adding aftermarket suppressors to the cigar lighter circut.
With your test light, or multimeter, check the headlamp connector where it plugs into the headlight. Red/black wire. If you have power at the connector at that wire, (with the headlamp switch in the on position, and the dimmer switch in the lowbeam mode) change your headlights and/or check the ground wire. If no power go on to next step.
If no power, check the Red/black wire at the dimmer switch. You can use a jumper wire to jump the Red/Yellow wire and Red/Black wires together for a test. If your lowbeam headlamps come on, then it's the dimmer switch. If they don't then it's a wiring problem. Red/Black wire.
Bad grounds can cause all sorts of weirdness. There should be an electrical noise supressor on the radio. The 12V cigar lighter does not have any radio suppression at all, as it was only designed to light cigars or cigarettes for a short period. So this might be a problem you can't fix without modification or adding aftermarket suppressors to the cigar lighter circut.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
It's possible yes.
The dimmer switch on the floor and the wire connection are prone to water damage.
The dimmer switch on the floor and the wire connection are prone to water damage.
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Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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I honestly am not thinking it would be a wiring issue, is it possible that me actual headlight switch has gone bad and it would give me all my other functions but no low or high beams/vice versa?
I also checked the radio and had no movement on my multitester at all on every function, in terms of the speakers.
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