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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 08:15 AM
  #1  
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Lights not working correctly

I have an `85 F350, 460 engine, manual trans. It has a dump body and trailer hitch. The last time I used the truck it was at night and the brake/running lights stopped working while the head lights and other lights continued to work.

After a few minutes the running lights started working again, but would go off when the brakes were applied; but the brake lights did not come on. I don’t know if it is related but I had pulled a trailer earlier in the day using the trailer electrical connection.

Can anyone give me an idea as to how to trouble shoot this?

Many thanks,

Mark
 
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 12:32 PM
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Go through the rear lights, and take them apart and check the connections.
Take the bulbs out, clean the outside of the bulb, and the socket tab connections. If there is a separate ground wire to the frame, check it, and take the frame connection and wire brush it clean. If the light housings are metal, and are grounded through where they mount on the frame, take them off and scrape the surface clean to get a good ground.


 

Last edited by Franklin2; Oct 17, 2003 at 12:35 PM.
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 01:10 PM
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Okay that gives me a palce to start.

Many thanks,

Mark
 

Last edited by mchild; Oct 17, 2003 at 01:13 PM.
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Old Oct 20, 2003 | 09:42 AM
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Dave,

You were dead on. The ground for the brake/running/turn signals was through the mounting points of the light housings and there was too much rust and such for it to be a good contact. I ran direct ground wires to both fixtures and and all is good now.

Thanks again,

Mark
 
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