Turned on Lights, Killed everything!

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Dec 20, 2004 | 07:33 AM

jwirth

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Turned on Lights, Killed everything!

Driving to work, I started out with the lights on. No problem except that the left turn indicator was stuck on, but the signals seem to work normally. Then I stopped for gas and forgot to turn the lights on right away. When I did, it killed everything. I pulled over and looked at battery and ignition module connections. I didn't see a problem. Got back in, and it fired right up.

Any ideas before I go tearing things apart?
'77 F-150 300, straight six.

Dec 20, 2004 | 07:55 AM

snyiper

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From: southern Md

I had a very similar thing happen in a vehicle and it turned out to be a bad ground on the tag light. Sounds like a ground issue to me...Good luck

Dec 20, 2004 | 12:34 PM

jwirth

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Tag light? How did that happen? I would never think to check that. I know I will be chasing down a bad connection or ground. GGRRRRRR! I hate these types of problems!

Dec 21, 2004 | 08:29 AM

snyiper

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From: southern Md

I'm not versed enough in electronics to tell you how but some other things that it caused were turn signals on engine died every pulse of the flasher, hit the horn and headlights would flash. I eventually had to replace the wiring harness inside the car (70 Monte Carlo) but it took a while to find what it was. You can get short trackers to put in the fuse box that have a meter that directs you to the bad section. If it is a older car I would double check all the ground Gremlins first!!

Glenn

Dec 21, 2004 | 09:31 AM

LxMan1

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From: Louisville,Ky.

Check the engine to chassis ground. The turn signal indicator light staying on usually means that you have a burned out parking light bulb.

Dec 21, 2004 | 08:27 PM

stepman

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From: peoria, az

I would first suspect dirty battery connections. Very common on old fords. Pull your cables off the batt and clean the connections.

Dec 25, 2004 | 12:45 PM

jwirth

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Battery connections are super, I just went through all that. I need to check chassis ground.
Other symtoms that I noticed lately are the horn started coming on by itself and now the left and right turn signal indicator would sometimes stay on. All turn signal bulbs are good.
Also, the dash lights sometimes go on and off.