Running light out
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Junior User
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Running light out
Hi folks,
I've searched the forum and turned up little. I have a '66 F250. Both brake and turn signal lights work. The running light on the passenger side is out. I swapped bulbs and they both work fine. I inspected the wiring from the tailgate to the engine compartment and don't see anything obvious. Any tips on how to proceed? Why would brake and turn signal work but not running light? There are only two wires. I'm not a stable genius with electrical so I'm stumped. Thank you kindly.
I've searched the forum and turned up little. I have a '66 F250. Both brake and turn signal lights work. The running light on the passenger side is out. I swapped bulbs and they both work fine. I inspected the wiring from the tailgate to the engine compartment and don't see anything obvious. Any tips on how to proceed? Why would brake and turn signal work but not running light? There are only two wires. I'm not a stable genius with electrical so I'm stumped. Thank you kindly.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 954
From: Tri Cities, TN
I would start by removing the tail light housing and cleaning up the connector. I believe the brown wire is for the tail light. Make sure the springs under the bulb contacts are free. You only have two wires because they ground through the bed.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 708
Likes: 28
From: Pahrump, Nv.
Napa sells them. Just ask for tail light pig tail, usually comes with a spring. When the light is in place push up on the bottom of the wire to engage the connection. Sometimes not being in the housing correctly will cause it not to work
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,021
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From: Seattle
I've used my soldering iron and built back up the solder on both the connections and light bulb bases with success before - if you already have a soldering iron its worth a try. The solder is somewhat soft and with the spring pressure it wears almost constantly as the truck is bouncing down the road.
Chad
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Chad
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Great minds think alike. I was thinking a blob of soldier might do the trick as a temp fix anyways. Thanks for the tips Thrifty.
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Lead Gopher
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From: Seattle
Chad
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Okay so here's what I know. I ran a ground wire from the battery and checked each connection. One I got a trickle of a reading, the other, the gray lead was dead. I checked the first connections further up the line and it was inconclusive as I couldn't get a good ground there. I check the connection where it splits off in the engine compartment and reading was strong. I'm guess a broken wire at this point but where? There's a whole ****e load of electrical tape to undo just between the connection in the rear of the truck to the tail light. I'm thinking of running a good wire form the connection at the rear to the dead tail light connect to see if it at least lights at that point before unraveling all the tape. Ugh.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 954
From: Tri Cities, TN
Wiring
Okay so here's what I know. I ran a ground wire from the battery and checked each connection. One I got a trickle of a reading, the other, the gray lead was dead. I checked the first connections further up the line and it was inconclusive as I couldn't get a good ground there. I check the connection where it splits off in the engine compartment and reading was strong. I'm guess a broken wire at this point but where? There's a whole ****e load of electrical tape to undo just between the connection in the rear of the truck to the tail light. I'm thinking of running a good wire form the connection at the rear to the dead tail light connect to see if it at least lights at that point before unraveling all the tape. Ugh.
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Ah yes. Those are the guys I failed to get a decent reading on. Will attempt again this weekend when I have more time. I did hit one with a file to clean it up a bit. I need to do the other as well. Boy, I really hope this is the issue. Thank you kindly.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,463
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From: Tri Cities, TN
I found the easiest way to clean those female connectors is to roll up a piece of 220 grit paper and spin it between your fingers. When you plug them back up put some silicon dielectric grease on them to keep them from getting wet and corroding again.