Lights won't go off !!!!
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Lights won't go off !!!!
My father-in-law called me this morning because his 77 F-150 wouldn't start, dead battery. No problem, I think, I drive over and hook up the jumper cables and the parking lights on his truck come on. There's the problem I tell him, you left your lights on!!! I reach in the cab to turn off the lights, and the switch is OFF!! And when I turn the dimmer, like to dim the dash lights, it dims the park lights until they finally go off, but the dash lights stay on constantly. No wonder the battery is dead!!! I figured something was crossed up or dirty in the switch, so I picked up a new one, installed that tonight, and it still has the same problem.
Anyone else ever had or seen this problem? I know to check grounds, sockets, and trace wiring, but will have to wait until tomorrow. Thought I would ask before I start tracing the whole wiring harness.
Anyone else ever had or seen this problem? I know to check grounds, sockets, and trace wiring, but will have to wait until tomorrow. Thought I would ask before I start tracing the whole wiring harness.
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From: Southwestern Michigan
Lights won't go off !!!!
I h8 em too
I think the switch is the culprit
78 F150 4x4
429 CID
Dana 44 spooled Front,
9"Locked rear,
5:13 Gears
17/40/15 Gumbo monster mudders
18/39.5/15 Swamper Boggers
BIG,BAD,and UGLY.
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Lights won't go off !!!!
My reply is in the electrical forum.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Lights won't go off !!!!
One thing I forgot to mention, the dash lights stay on even with the light switch unplugged from the harness.
Guess I'll be tracing some wires today
Thanks all for the input, I'll let ya know what I find.
Guess I'll be tracing some wires today
Thanks all for the input, I'll let ya know what I find.
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Lights won't go off !!!!
The dash lights are a blue/red stripe wire.
It now sounds like a headlight switch connector problem.
Look close on the plastic block for arcing or I bet someone has patched into a wire for power to something.
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It now sounds like a headlight switch connector problem.
Look close on the plastic block for arcing or I bet someone has patched into a wire for power to something.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: San Antonio
Lights won't go off !!!!
I had the same problem on my '78 F350.
After taking off the plastic dash face, I found the nut that secures the switch was loose, letting the switch "fall" forward into the dash enough to prevent the switch shaft from going in enough to turn the lights off.
I tightned the nut, which pulled the switch back into place.
Then my lights turned off.
Hope this might help.
Mike
After taking off the plastic dash face, I found the nut that secures the switch was loose, letting the switch "fall" forward into the dash enough to prevent the switch shaft from going in enough to turn the lights off.
I tightned the nut, which pulled the switch back into place.
Then my lights turned off.
Hope this might help.
Mike
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From: San Antonio
Lights won't go off !!!!
Ooops, guess I should stay awake when I am reading.
I Zoomed over the part where you changed the switch, sorry
I Zoomed over the part where you changed the switch, sorry
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Lights won't go off !!!!
Hey Guys,
Thanks again for all your input.
I found a melted power wire in the underdash harness going to the fusebox that was feeding power into the light circuit. A circuit had been over-fused (30A where a 15A was supposed to go) that allowed the wire to melt. Replaced the melted wire section and some of the adjacent wires, and all is well. Oh yeah, and replaced about 5 fuses with the correct amperage.
Thanks again for all your input.
I found a melted power wire in the underdash harness going to the fusebox that was feeding power into the light circuit. A circuit had been over-fused (30A where a 15A was supposed to go) that allowed the wire to melt. Replaced the melted wire section and some of the adjacent wires, and all is well. Oh yeah, and replaced about 5 fuses with the correct amperage.
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