lights won't turn off
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Joined: Feb 2006
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lights won't turn off
I have an '88 F-350. Previous owner added OD, a gear splitter, and wiring for electric brakes on a gooseneck trailer in the bed.
I've owned it for about 6 years, and everything has worked great. Except lately. The tail lights and parking lights won't turn off, even with the key removed.
It started a few months ago when the rain started; I noticed that the tail lights were on when the truck was just sitting there.
It's progressed so that the tail lights are on only sometimes, but the front parking lights are on all the time. This is all with the truck just sitting there with the key out.
I disconnect the batteries so they don't drain.
I know next to nothing about this stuff. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
I've owned it for about 6 years, and everything has worked great. Except lately. The tail lights and parking lights won't turn off, even with the key removed.
It started a few months ago when the rain started; I noticed that the tail lights were on when the truck was just sitting there.
It's progressed so that the tail lights are on only sometimes, but the front parking lights are on all the time. This is all with the truck just sitting there with the key out.
I disconnect the batteries so they don't drain.
I know next to nothing about this stuff. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 43
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From: Lakeland, Florida
Sounds like your headlamp switch is fried. Or something is powering the circuit and backfeeding the system for the ground.
Remove the fuse for the headlamps to determine which it is. If you remove the fuse and it still problem continues, it's a wiring issue. If they go out , I recommend replacing the switch.
Remove the fuse for the headlamps to determine which it is. If you remove the fuse and it still problem continues, it's a wiring issue. If they go out , I recommend replacing the switch.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,990
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From: Virginia
I am not sure if your year truck has a fuse for headlights or not. If it doesn't, you can try unplugging the wiring connector on the top of the headlight switch. If they still glow, then you know you have a wiring problem. These trucks have a very common wiring problem near the headlight switch. The connections on the headlight switch get loose, and the plug connector melts as well as the wiring near the switch can melt. If two of the wires melt together, they can cause the problem you are having.
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the truck doesn't appear to have a fuse for headlights.
I disconnected the wiring harness from the light switch and the problem persists (front parking lights on both sides are still glowing)
I didn't see any signs of melted connectors or wires, but I'll take another look with that in mind
Thanks for your input
I disconnected the wiring harness from the light switch and the problem persists (front parking lights on both sides are still glowing)
I didn't see any signs of melted connectors or wires, but I'll take another look with that in mind
Thanks for your input
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,990
Likes: 2,740
From: Virginia
Things we know that may help narrow it down:
The park/taillamps are all driven by a brown wire. Even the rear license plate lights use the same wire.
This wire originates at the headlight switch.
The lights are staying on all the time, so the brown wire is getting against a wire that is hot all the time, not key-on.
It could be anywhere in truck, but there is a power all the time wire that feeds the headlights. This wire is orange/black.
I am going to guess the wires going to the headlight switch are bundled together. So there may be a chance if you un-wrap the wiring harness there, the brown wire may be melted into the orange/black wire.
This is just a theory, but probably a good place to check.
The park/taillamps are all driven by a brown wire. Even the rear license plate lights use the same wire.
This wire originates at the headlight switch.
The lights are staying on all the time, so the brown wire is getting against a wire that is hot all the time, not key-on.
It could be anywhere in truck, but there is a power all the time wire that feeds the headlights. This wire is orange/black.
I am going to guess the wires going to the headlight switch are bundled together. So there may be a chance if you un-wrap the wiring harness there, the brown wire may be melted into the orange/black wire.
This is just a theory, but probably a good place to check.
