Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Lights and Wiring

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 09:49 AM
  #16  
bashby's Avatar
bashby
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
I would wire it so all of the marker lights run off of the relay. As mentioned, the switch and plug for the headlights and markers is a weak point.
On my 86, the wire to the factory cab lights runs up the drivers rear door post. I think you may find a wire that is hot with the lights on already run to that corner near the floor. I would also go with a 20 or 30 amp relay even though 15 should be plenty.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 10:27 AM
  #17  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by subford
I would not put an extra load on the light switch and that is why the relay. The light switch and plug melt already a lot of the times. If any thing I would also relive some of the load off the brown wire that it has now.

The wire color is brown as I said above but I do think I said anything about taking power off a coil to a relay to do anything.
If you put the relay under the hood I would tap the brown wire at C100 in the engine compartment.
If you put the relay inside the cab I would tap the brown wire at the warning buzzer.
See the diagran below.



/
Thanks for the diagram!
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 10:39 AM
  #18  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by deljac
I ran mine like subford showed you and i tapped into the wire going to the drivers side park lite. And it works great. Im running rear light bar. Cab visor lights and the 3 lights in the grill light the raptor
Yeah, I was looking to do the same thing. I looked at it last night though, and I was afraid to splice into that park light because the bulb (2 filaments, regular + bright one for turn signal) turned one filament all the way off when the bright one lit up for turn signals. I was afraid that one wire was losing power (for low light filament) every time the turn signal was on. I didn't cut into the wires to test them. So my fear was that if I spliced into the regular (low filament) park light power, I would have my clearance lights all blinking on and off.

The bulb has 3 wires to it. Based on what I just said, that could be the case if two of them are power (hot) wires. But, it could be that there are 2 ground wires and one hot wire, and the filaments are just controlled by which one's grounded. If this is the case, it should work fine to hook up my clearance light relay off of there. Do you know which of those wires right at the front drivers side parking light it what I need to tap, and if it's setup like I just said?
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 10:39 AM
  #19  
SomeDude451's Avatar
SomeDude451
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by subford
I would not put an extra load on the light switch and that is why the relay. The light switch and plug melt already a lot of the times. If any thing I would also relive some of the load off the brown wire that it has now.

The wire color is brown as I said above but I do think I said anything about taking power off a coil to a relay to do anything.
If you put the relay under the hood I would tap the brown wire at C100 in the engine compartment.
If you put the relay inside the cab I would tap the brown wire at the warning buzzer.
See the diagran below.



/
If you want to take some of the load off the headlight switch, why not wire a relay to the headlights? That's where most of the load comes from anyway. No need to hack up or splice wires and make a mess when the factory provides what you need anyway. Plus, with a relay on the headlights, you'll get more output from greater voltage.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 11:13 AM
  #20  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by SomeDude451
If you want to take some of the load off the headlight switch, why not wire a relay to the headlights? That's where most of the load comes from anyway. No need to hack up or splice wires and make a mess when the factory provides what you need anyway. Plus, with a relay on the headlights, you'll get more output from greater voltage.
Not looking to take any load off the current system. Just need to install a new relay (with it's own power source) to run off the the same circuit as the headlights/park lights so that they turn on with the same pull switch.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 11:18 AM
  #21  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by deljac
I ran mine like subford showed you and i tapped into the wire going to the drivers side park lite. And it works great. Im running rear light bar. Cab visor lights and the 3 lights in the grill light the raptor
I want to run stuff very similar to yours. I've got the lights for the front grille like you (bought them yesterday), and I'm going to put on roof lights or visor lights. Plus, I may put some small tail lights on my tool box or on a headache rack.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 11:33 AM
  #22  
deljac's Avatar
deljac
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln, Ne
I just went and looked and its the middle wire of the 3.
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 12:05 PM
  #23  
subford's Avatar
subford
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
The wires at the turn bulb are two hots and one ground wire.
The Brown one is the one you want.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 12:06 PM
  #24  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by deljac
I just went and looked and its the middle wire of the 3.
Thanks for doing that for me! I'll try to get the grille lights hooked up tonight. I already made up the wiring for power and ground for them (a bit of soldering and heat shrinking bits of wire so I only have to run 1 wire to power and 1 wire to ground for all 3 lights).

I'll post a pic after I get it done!
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 12:21 PM
  #25  
deljac's Avatar
deljac
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln, Ne
Cool goodluck
 
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 08:46 PM
  #26  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Got the grille lights on this afternoon/evening. Got everything wired right!


 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2013 | 09:09 AM
  #27  
deljac's Avatar
deljac
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln, Ne
Love the look. Thats why i did it to mine. Youve got a great lookin truck
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2013 | 09:21 AM
  #28  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Originally Posted by deljac
Love the look. Thats why i did it to mine. Youve got a great lookin truck
Thanks! I really like the look too. Can't wait to get roof lights on it!
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2013 | 10:33 AM
  #29  
BigBlockF350's Avatar
BigBlockF350
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 0
From: VA
Ended up making this so that I could wire more small things into the same relay:



Then I added floor LEDs inside the cab:
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tbenks
Electrical Systems/Wiring
5
Jan 31, 2020 05:29 PM
Sold my dodge!!!
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
7
Dec 15, 2019 03:59 PM
1bad67sbf
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Mar 28, 2010 11:56 AM
rocco913
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
3
Nov 8, 2006 07:28 PM
gcfisher75
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Oct 17, 2003 01:42 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:37 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE