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

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Old Aug 20, 2004 | 04:27 PM
  #1  
DT 466Man's Avatar
DT 466Man
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From: Adams TN
Lights

My 85's left side running lights and tail lights are brighter than the left they do not get any brighter when the brakes are applied like the right side does when the running/headlights are on the left turn signal's do not work.
also the right brake light does not come on with the running lights off but the front turn signal works fine with the lights off.
the right side works like it is supposed to
whats wrong?
 
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Old Aug 20, 2004 | 09:13 PM
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HEH? Check the bulbs and repost in a clearer fashion. If the lights are not as bright, the second element may be burned.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2004 | 09:28 PM
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What he said.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2004 | 10:33 PM
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check all the bulbs make sure you have the right ones for each socket, make sure none are blown.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2004 | 10:42 PM
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From: Right Next to U
He has electrical mismatched wires and possibly a bad ground wire to the frame.....anybody's guess on the gremins.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2004 | 05:00 AM
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Dirty, corroded or wet sockets. Bad ground, bulbs in backwards, it can be done. I doubt that it's in the wiring harness. Usually, if you clean the contacts and use contact grease along with new bulbs it will solve the problem. If you suspect a ground as the case seems to always be when you have a dimming of the lights, just splice into the sockets ground wire and run it to the frame, then you will know.
 
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Old Aug 24, 2004 | 06:12 PM
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From: Adams TN
i changed the bulbs and it is the same
when i bought the truck the lights didn't even work. It is only the left side acting up
i replaced the tail light harness and it is still the same
but when you step on the brake they are both the same
the left side doesn't get brighter it stays the same
 
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Old Aug 24, 2004 | 07:46 PM
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Heff2727
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From: Winnipeg, Canada
Similar thing happened to me when I got my truck...turns out the guy before me replaced the lights and wired them in backwards
 
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Old Aug 24, 2004 | 10:49 PM
  #9  
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From: Right Next to U
Brake switch is bad....
 
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Old Aug 25, 2004 | 10:32 AM
  #10  
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From: Adams TN
if the brake switch was bad would the left still light up like it does?
i will check the wiring i used the old sockets on the new harness the ones on the harness were crusty looking mine still look new i let you know how it works out
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 01:00 AM
  #11  
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All still sounds like a bad ground. You have to check the contacts in the light socket, not just the bulb. If they are dirty, your lights will do the same thing. Sometimes, the sockets need to be changed out completely. I would take a short wire, bolt it to a good frame ground, then touch it to the outside of the bulb socket, on the metal part, which should be ground. Then you will know if it's a ground problem or not. Next, you can use one length of wire and run it from the running lights on the good side of the truck to the running lights on the bad side, just for test purposes. Can also switch bulbs from side to side and see if they do the same thing or not. It's just a process of elimination but I would bet on the ground, dirt problem.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 03:43 PM
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thanks i'll try that
 
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