Headlight woes.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 5
About a year ago my headlights were giving me hell with a similar issue. I changed the headlight switch and it was a no go, turns out the battery to body grounds were missing, added that and it helped somewhat. Ended up being the headlight plug/pigtails. They weren't melted or anything just old and rusty/corroded. I changed them out and they've been working like a champ ever since!
If I remember correctly the headlight harness does ground to the fender. I want to say it's two black wires in the same connector.
If I remember correctly the headlight harness does ground to the fender. I want to say it's two black wires in the same connector.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Just get/make a relay harness and be done with it. It has its own main ground wires for the bulbs. You'll have brighter light, more options for high-current bulbs, and no risk of melting down your headlight switch/connector. As said above, it's how the truck should have been configured in the first place.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 48
From: California
Just get/make a relay harness and be done with it. It has its own main ground wires for the bulbs. You'll have brighter light, more options for high-current bulbs, and no risk of melting down your headlight switch/connector. As said above, it's how the truck should have been configured in the first place.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 25
From: NJ
See if you have room to mount a RTRM panel anywhere, either inner fender or on the fender itself. I'm glad I went all out and did it nicely. It only took an evening after work to get the box wires up and a Saturday to install and make up the wiring, most of which was figuring out where to mount it, moving other crap out of the way, cleaning up PO messes, and figuring how to run the wiring to be neat and tidy.
I used this one: 15303-2-2-4 It's only 4.5"x3.5"x4.5" LxWxD installed with brackets.
I used this one: 15303-2-2-4 It's only 4.5"x3.5"x4.5" LxWxD installed with brackets.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 25
From: NJ
Oh, belts not bolts... Just a normal vbelt setup with low mount vacuum pump. I've never owned anything with serpentine belts, but I don't like them with auto tensioners as they seem to fail frequently whereas I've never had problems with belt life or tension using any vbelt system. I prefer to keep complexity to a minimum.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 5
The groove on the pulley for the vacuum pump is also smaller, so it takes a smaller belt, which is why they always look funky, only time I've seen a vbelt pulley wear out is on a tractor where the dust/derbis has hell on everything. Seen one cut in half, clean as a whistle too.
I swear by vbelts. Never had any issues either
I swear by vbelts. Never had any issues either
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 867
Likes: 3
From: North Bend
Oh, belts not bolts... Just a normal vbelt setup with low mount vacuum pump. I've never owned anything with serpentine belts, but I don't like them with auto tensioners as they seem to fail frequently whereas I've never had problems with belt life or tension using any vbelt system. I prefer to keep complexity to a minimum.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 48
From: California
Y'all are gushing about v-belts and I'm just thinking about how much space is in that truck engine bay.
I'm at the point right now that I might rig up a relay panel underneath the driver-side battery tray, where I could reach it from with the grill removed, putting my hand thru the blinker light housing hole. And that's the most accessible place I can think of right now. ugh.
I'm at the point right now that I might rig up a relay panel underneath the driver-side battery tray, where I could reach it from with the grill removed, putting my hand thru the blinker light housing hole. And that's the most accessible place I can think of right now. ugh.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 7
Yeah, exactly. It almost looks like it was upside down, but V-belts are hard to install upside down(unless they are worn quite badly).
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 5
Y'all are gushing about v-belts and I'm just thinking about how much space is in that truck engine bay.
I'm at the point right now that I might rig up a relay panel underneath the driver-side battery tray, where I could reach it from with the grill removed, putting my hand thru the blinker light housing hole. And that's the most accessible place I can think of right now. ugh.
I'm at the point right now that I might rig up a relay panel underneath the driver-side battery tray, where I could reach it from with the grill removed, putting my hand thru the blinker light housing hole. And that's the most accessible place I can think of right now. ugh.
