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

Tail light problems

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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 05:13 PM
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Tail light problems

I have recently inherited a 1985 f250. Started to drive it and I noticed I had to hold the turn signals in order for them to stay on. Then one night my wife wanted to drive it home so I was following her in her truck and I noticed that when she applied the brakes that the right light would loose all lights and no brake lights would light up. I replaced the turn signal switch and now I have no turn signals at all. But the hazards do work front and rear. I am now stumped.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 05:24 PM
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Welcome to FTE

When you say no turn lights do the light up and not blink or nothing at all?
What happens up front with turn lights?

The light going out at the rear with your wife driving is a bad ground.
I would open both rear and front lights and check bulbs and grounds as a start.

Then if no change recheck your turn switch job as you may have wires crossed.

Do you have brake lights?
Power to the brake light switch?
Check fuses if good?
Dave ----
 
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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 05:32 PM
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I forgot to mention that I did double check my wiring on the turn signal switch and they were all good. I also have now changed the bulbs in both tail lights and the 3rd brake light.

To clarify no turn signals at all I mean that it's not flashing even on the dash now. Along with not even lighting up at all.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 06:09 PM
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You may also check any trailer harness wiring/grounds. My taillights would flicker and turn signals get "stuck" until I replaced my old trailer plug.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 06:11 PM
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Troubleshooting guide for you:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ing-guide.html


 
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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 07:24 PM
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Originally you had a bad ground in the right rear light, and your plastic cancel pawl was broken behind the steering wheel. Now that you have replaced the switch, you have more problems than you started with. So I would assume your new switch is bad or you knocked something loose in the wiring or the column when you replaced the switch. Your signal stalk stays when you move it now? If so, you at least got that problem fixed.

Put your old switch back in. If the lights come on, then you are back to where you were, you can steal the cancel pawl off the new switch so you do not have to hold the lever to make the lights work. If you get that far, then you just need a new socket in the right rear light. If you do not get that far and the lights still don't work at all, it is definitely something you did wrong putting the new switch in, now that the old switch won't work either.

P.S. Have you checked the fuses?
 
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