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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Wiring issue???

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Old Jun 20, 2017 | 01:39 PM
  #16  
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Why not adjust it before replacing it?
 
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Old Jun 20, 2017 | 01:44 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Gary Lewis
Why not adjust it before replacing it?
I'm going to try that right now
 
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Old Jun 20, 2017 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Gary Lewis
Why not adjust it before replacing it?
I cleaned the switch up and tried adjusting it and it's still not working right. You have to hold the key 1/2 between run and start to get the marker lights to be bright enough to see
 
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Old Jun 20, 2017 | 02:32 PM
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If the brightness of the light changes while moving the key then the switch may be bad.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Gary Lewis
If the brightness of the light changes while moving the key then the switch may be bad.
i changed the switch and there still not overly bright and I also noticed the horn only works when the lights are on.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 02:06 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Kevsf150
ok thanks I'll replace it. Another part they won't carry instock, gotta love these old trucks lol
All the parts stores usually carry it in stock. What does that tell you?
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 02:38 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Franklin2
All the parts stores usually carry it in stock. What does that tell you?
i live in a small town and there isn't very many of these trucks around here. Why stock parts for trucks that you don't see on the roads anymore
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 03:46 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Kevsf150
I don't think that's the issue, I replace all the cables from the battery to the starter solenoid to the battery and from the battery to the engine to the frame to the rad cradle Because I also thought that might of been the problem
I also pulled the harness from under the hood to the tail lights and fixed any broken wires thinking that might of been the problem but it wasn't
Ok you did the big cable grounds - batt> motor> frame I do not see motor to body and I think someone posted this, left side of motor to fire wall.

As a test after you have a good body to motor/frame ground undo the plug up front going to the rear lights and see if you still have the issue, my guess you will.

I still think it is a ground issue but body to batt. I have seen it posted there is a group of wires inside the cab on the fire wall behind the radio I would pull this apart and clean it
IIRC there are some ground wires engine bay side on the fire wall also, pull and clean them and think you have some on the radiator support for the head & side marker lights, pull and clean.

This thinking out loud what happens if you pull all the fuses does it still have the issue?
If not put 1 fuse in at a time and test the fuse that causes the issue is the system you need to look at closer.
Dave ----
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 04:45 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
Ok you did the big cable grounds - batt> motor> frame I do not see motor to body and I think someone posted this, left side of motor to fire wall.

As a test after you have a good body to motor/frame ground undo the plug up front going to the rear lights and see if you still have the issue, my guess you will.

I still think it is a ground issue but body to batt. I have seen it posted there is a group of wires inside the cab on the fire wall behind the radio I would pull this apart and clean it
IIRC there are some ground wires engine bay side on the fire wall also, pull and clean them and think you have some on the radiator support for the head & side marker lights, pull and clean.

This thinking out loud what happens if you pull all the fuses does it still have the issue?
If not put 1 fuse in at a time and test the fuse that causes the issue is the system you need to look at closer.
Dave ----
ok I will try all this tomorrow and see what happens
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 04:57 PM
  #25  
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I know it's a PITA but do 1 thing at a time and try to see if it is fixed.
If you do 2 or more things at once and it is fixed you will not know what 1 fixed it.


I think I would check / add the body to motor/frame ground and test.
Then engine bay fire wall ground and radiator support grounds. Yea I know more than 1 but they are easy to get to.
The grounds behind radio can be a pain I hear so it's that or pulling fuses, your call.


Good luck
Dave ----
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 05:00 PM
  #26  
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[QUOTE=FuzzFace2;17276123]I know it's a PITA but do 1 thing at a time and try to see if it is fixed.
If you do 2 or more things at once and it is fixed you will not know what 1 fixed it.


I think I would check / add the body to motor/frame ground and test.
Then engine bay fire wall ground and radiator support grounds. Yea I know more than 1 but they are easy to get to.
The grounds behind radio can be a pain I hear so it's that or pulling fuses, your call.


Good luck
Dave
 
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Old Jun 21, 2017 | 05:02 PM
  #27  
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[QUOTE=Kevsf150;17276125]
Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
I know it's a PITA but do 1 thing at a time and try to see if it is fixed.
If you do 2 or more things at once and it is fixed you will not know what 1 fixed it.


I think I would check / add the body to motor/frame ground and test.
Then engine bay fire wall ground and radiator support grounds. Yea I know more than 1 but they are easy to get to.
The grounds behind radio can be a pain I hear so it's that or pulling fuses, your call.


Good luck
Dave
yea im going to try all of them again. At this point I feel like I have nothing to loose.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2017 | 01:16 PM
  #28  
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Ok I tried battery to frame,to motor to cab I pulled one fuse at a time, I changed the starter solenoid, ignition switch, and light switch and it's still the same. The only way it works properly Is if once its started I turn the key about 1/2 way between start and run. I adjusted the ignition switch just the way the book says and it's still not working right. Also if you turn the key all to accessory there is no power. I'm just wondering, could the problem be in the key itself? How do I hook up a push button start to see if that's the issue?
 
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Old Jun 22, 2017 | 01:53 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Kevsf150
Ok I tried battery to frame,to motor to cab I pulled one fuse at a time, I changed the starter solenoid, ignition switch, and light switch and it's still the same. The only way it works properly Is if once its started I turn the key about 1/2 way between start and run. I adjusted the ignition switch just the way the book says and it's still not working right. Also if you turn the key all to accessory there is no power. I'm just wondering, could the problem be in the key itself? How do I hook up a push button start to see if that's the issue?
never mind, even with the key turned a little bit the horn only works if the lights are on
 
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Old Jun 22, 2017 | 02:22 PM
  #30  
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I'm confused. You said "I tried battery to frame,to motor to cab...." Are you saying that you ran a ground from the frame to the motor and then to the cab?

Also, everything works properly if the key is turned 1/2 way between Start and Run? But, you say that you "adjusted the ignition switch just the way the book says." Which book?

I ask because you also say "if you turn the key all to accessory there is no power." That and the fact that everything works correctly with the key halfway between Run and Start strongly suggests an ignition switch problem, and most likely adjustment thereof.

As for installing a pushbutton start, how would that fix an ignition switch problem? The accessories and horn have nothing to do with the Start circuit. so all installing a start switch would do is to confuse things even more.
 
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