Electrical Grimlin; need some help
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: SE Georgia
Electrical Grimlin; need some help
My running lights, blinkers, instrument panel, and brake lights ain't working. It was working before I started working on my engine and rebuilt it.
The wiring in this truck is crappy. Whoever had this truck before me rigged it up but it worked fine.
I just put a wire from the hot post to the instrument panel fuse and my panel lights and running lights turned on automactically (without even pulling the switch out)...I'm guessing something is loose but what do yall think?
The wiring in this truck is crappy. Whoever had this truck before me rigged it up but it worked fine.
I just put a wire from the hot post to the instrument panel fuse and my panel lights and running lights turned on automactically (without even pulling the switch out)...I'm guessing something is loose but what do yall think?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
From: Irondale, Al.
My running lights, blinkers, instrument panel, and brake lights ain't working. It was working before I started working on my engine and rebuilt it.
The wiring in this truck is crappy. Whoever had this truck before me rigged it up but it worked fine.
I just put a wire from the hot post to the instrument panel fuse and my panel lights and running lights turned on automactically (without even pulling the switch out)...I'm guessing something is loose but what do yall think?
The wiring in this truck is crappy. Whoever had this truck before me rigged it up but it worked fine.
I just put a wire from the hot post to the instrument panel fuse and my panel lights and running lights turned on automactically (without even pulling the switch out)...I'm guessing something is loose but what do yall think?
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Unfortunately, we can't easily point you where to look if the previous owner has hacked up the wiring. It's anybody's guess as to how it was done. You'll have to trace the wiring by hand, using a multimeter or test light to understand where power drops out. And as was advised above, check your ground straps, as these often get left out after reinstalling an engine.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 13,128
Likes: 347
From: THIS IS SPARTA!, ...Mo.
Looking at things logically, you jumped power to the fuse and the lights came on. That means everything from the fuse out to all the lights including the grounds are ok. You have a power problem between the battery, the switch, and the fuse block. Sounds to me like a bad headlight switch. Try working the switch in and out a few times to clean the contacts in it. That may be all it is.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: SE Georgia
Ok...well I got a new switch...still not it. Put a test light to a terminal on the headlight switch connector and it lit up...check my fuse panel on the instrument panel and it isn't getting hot...well I hooked up the wire to the fuse and to the battery and like before it turned on everything without turning on the headlight switch.
I'm just confused...I bet it's a simple problem..
I'm just confused...I bet it's a simple problem..
Rusty Roller
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,423
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From: Santa Cruz Mountains
At this point you need to leave the dash off and remove the speedo housing so you can see all the wiring behind the dash. Start looking for burnt crossed wires. Something is crossed up for that to be happening.
Power goes to the headlight switch and that switch controls the headlights and dash lights plus the interior light above the rear window.
You will need a wiring diagram to guide you. You can find them here; a bit complicated but... 1973-1979 Ford Truck Wiring Diagrams & Schematics - FORDification.net
.
Power goes to the headlight switch and that switch controls the headlights and dash lights plus the interior light above the rear window.
You will need a wiring diagram to guide you. You can find them here; a bit complicated but... 1973-1979 Ford Truck Wiring Diagrams & Schematics - FORDification.net
.
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Postmaster
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From: SE Georgia
Well the headlights are placed on a toggle switch the previous owner installed longggg ago. I mean the stuff was working before we pulled the engine...but I will look. thanks for the diagram
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Postmaster
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From: SE Georgia
I pulled the Headlight switch I just bought out and tested the terminals on it and one lit up my tester.
I pulled the instrument cluster connector and tested the terminals on it and 3 or so of them lit up my tester.
The fuse for my instrument panel and cluster lamps is not getting power to it. But when I hooked a wire to the instrument fuse panel to the battery...it will all come on except my brakes and blinkers.
There is no power at the lights either...just checked but when I hook that wire from the battery to that instrument panel fuse....they will come on then
I pulled the instrument cluster connector and tested the terminals on it and 3 or so of them lit up my tester.
The fuse for my instrument panel and cluster lamps is not getting power to it. But when I hooked a wire to the instrument fuse panel to the battery...it will all come on except my brakes and blinkers.
There is no power at the lights either...just checked but when I hook that wire from the battery to that instrument panel fuse....they will come on then
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Postmaster
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From: SE Georgia
I just put my test light to my headlight switch on a copper piece and i hit the coil/spring like piece at the same time and my running lights came on but when I broke the connection with my test light they went out.
Guess because one side isn't getting hot and since that green wire on the headlight connector terminal is getting hot and I touched that piece it made the circuit that the blue and red wire didn't since it ain't working.
Behind the fuse box..all the wires are good but the instrument cluster fuse still doesn't get power.
Guess because one side isn't getting hot and since that green wire on the headlight connector terminal is getting hot and I touched that piece it made the circuit that the blue and red wire didn't since it ain't working.
Behind the fuse box..all the wires are good but the instrument cluster fuse still doesn't get power.