Have a 78 f150 that appears to be possessed. Every time i fix something it seems to cause another problem. This truck was wired by a hillbilly many years ago and now Im having to figure this out. Here is some history on what is goin on.
Put the new alt on and its charging perfectly, 14.6v at idle.
Now i have another problem. The last time that i drove it with the bad alt; it was night so had the headlights on of course. As i was on my way home the headlights were getting a little dim, since i was running off the battery only. I also notice the dashlights were getting dimmer and dimmer until by the time i got home they were completely out. Once i changed the alt, the headlights are still fine but the dash lights no longer work as well as all of the running lights. Brake lights, back up lights, and turn signals all work fine. Check the fuses, all are fine. In the wiring diagram it shows a brown wire that connects all of the running lights/parking lights. Forgot to mention, the horn doent work either and i see its on the wiring diagram at the headlightswitch. Does this have anything to do with the dash lights?
Got a new light switch, put it in, and same as before, headlights work but no running/parking lights.
Now i notice an intermittent clicking noise coming from the steering column until i disconnect the battery. It sounds like a click in the directional switch and then a ping in the light switch as a response, repeating over and over. I can also hear the click in the horns under the hood but no horn. Horn only worked for one day when i first got the truck. It sounds like it could be a short or a problem with the directional switch. What should i look for?

 

The click when you hit the horn is probably the horn relay, which should be mounted near your solenoid. Which means the problem is between the relay and the horns - or the secondary circuit.

Not sure about the clicking between the turn signal switch and light switch, but there is also a circuit breaker in the light switch which could make the noise. That breaker is what makes your headlights flash off and on when it wears out, or there's too much resistance in the circuit. I'm not aware of anything in the TS switch which would make a noise like that without the stalk lever being moved.

It sounds like a fuse since I suspect that the gauge and parking lights are on the same circuit. Sometimes fuses will look good, but not pass current. Other times the fuse really is still good, and corrosion or crap has built up on the fuse terminals and/or the clip/holder terminals which secure the fuse, and that impedes the current trying to get through. Sometimes simply removing the fuse and re-installing it will restore the current path - but if you have it out, you might as well sand all points of contact while you're there... I'm not well versed on electrical theory, but perhaps the dying battery trying to power the lights created a bunch of resistance, which begets heat, and that caused the fuse contacts to 'glaze' up.

And as always, be sure that your cab/firewall is grounded to the engine block, as a missing body ground will wreak a bunch of havocs.

 

There is no click when i hit the horn, it just clicks on its own but it sounds like its in the directional switch and i can also hear it in the horns under the hood. Only stops when i disconnect the battery. Gonna try each fuse one at a time and see if one makes it stop when i pull it.
According to Numberdummy, i dont have a relay for the horn.

 

If i did have speed control, where would it have been located?
Ripping into the column here soon, guess i will see what i find.

 

Took off the steering wheel and found 2 copper contacts connected to a blue/yel wire and a yel/blue wire. They dont seem to be making good contact on the copper plate. Is there supposed to be a spring or something?

 

Those 2 contacts are suppose to be spring loaded themselves, like when the steering wheel goes on there is spring tension in the pin/contact itself.

 

Thats what i thought. I found a picture of a new directional switch and it includes the contacts with springs. Can i get new contacts or do i have to buy the whole switch?

 

I have not took one apart in a while...probably have to get a new switch? If you just need some springs ect... I have some steering column parts and pieces on the shelf. PM me.

 

I appreciate it, the motorcraft craft one is kinda salty but i think im going to go ahead and get a new switch.
Thanx