I hate electrical problems
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 195
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From: Iron Station, NC
I hate electrical problems
I think one of the things that attracted me to the F100 is the simple wiring. I'm not a fan of electrical gremlins that like to lurk and be chased under the hood.
Of course the '60 that we just picked up for a project truck, has only semi-working headlights. The passenger side worked great. Today the sun was bright and the temp was good so I started working on it.
I went to the parts house and picked up some female plugs for both lights on the driver side. It seemed easy enough to wire up green, black, and red. Tried it...and nothing. Dim little glow, but no real light.
It took longer than it should to figure out the ground has been cut on that side. So the next second I get I'll fix the ground and try again.
I hate electrical problems.
Of course the '60 that we just picked up for a project truck, has only semi-working headlights. The passenger side worked great. Today the sun was bright and the temp was good so I started working on it.
I went to the parts house and picked up some female plugs for both lights on the driver side. It seemed easy enough to wire up green, black, and red. Tried it...and nothing. Dim little glow, but no real light.
It took longer than it should to figure out the ground has been cut on that side. So the next second I get I'll fix the ground and try again.
I hate electrical problems.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,978
Likes: 9,817
From: Rio Rancho, NM
LOL.....you're not alone
Electrical issues don't bother me, and if you keep a few simple things in your mind they might be easier for you also. These truck are pretty simple and only have a few basic circuits; lights, ignition, charging, gauges, and accessories.So, first of all, keep in mind that 90% of the time the electrical problems can be traced back to a bad ground (especially if the problems you are having is a dim light).
Second, previous owners notoriously butcher the wiring near the taillights trying to add a trailer plug. They also butcher the dash wiring trying to add radios and/or gauges.
Third, its very rare to have a problem inside the harness or inside an individual wire....look for the obvious spots....connectors, previous owner's splices, etc
Good luck
Bobby
Electrical issues don't bother me, and if you keep a few simple things in your mind they might be easier for you also. These truck are pretty simple and only have a few basic circuits; lights, ignition, charging, gauges, and accessories.So, first of all, keep in mind that 90% of the time the electrical problems can be traced back to a bad ground (especially if the problems you are having is a dim light).
Second, previous owners notoriously butcher the wiring near the taillights trying to add a trailer plug. They also butcher the dash wiring trying to add radios and/or gauges.
Third, its very rare to have a problem inside the harness or inside an individual wire....look for the obvious spots....connectors, previous owner's splices, etc
Good luck
Bobby
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 532
Likes: 1
From: Athens, GA, USA
I'll agree with Bobby on just about everything. I did have some problems in the wiring itself, in that it was 59 years old and was once upon a time wrapped in cotton and shellac. Brittle doesn't even seem to come close. I had many problems, due to the jacket being missing and circuits grounding out. So, I rewired the 51 from stem to stern. no more issues.
Not saying that something as new as a 60 would have that sort of problem (insert snarky grin here)
Best of luck with it. There are many electrical gurus around, Julie is one of the best.
Not saying that something as new as a 60 would have that sort of problem (insert snarky grin here)
Best of luck with it. There are many electrical gurus around, Julie is one of the best.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,978
Likes: 9,817
From: Rio Rancho, NM
OK, I got that covered.....
whew...that wasn't so hard, I think I'm getting the hang of this electrical stuff
whew...that wasn't so hard, I think I'm getting the hang of this electrical stuff
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 3
From: Sapulpa OK
A basic rule to remember is "no electricity will flow if it cannot get back to the battery". Period! Wires can be compared to pipes in your house. Much as pipes channel the flow of water to where you need it, wires channel the flow of electrons to where you need it.
Once you have a good understanding of how electricty works you will realize that smoke is what does the work. I know this because whenever an electrical device fails the smoke escapes and then the thing never works again. You have to go to the store and buy a new one that has all the smoke contained.
And wires have a coating on them called insulation. This is to serve as a containment system for the smoke. Whenever I see smoke leaking from a wire sure enough I can see where the insulation has seperated and allowed the smoke to escape.
There now, you have all the information you need to be a electrician. Please pass the rum.
Once you have a good understanding of how electricty works you will realize that smoke is what does the work. I know this because whenever an electrical device fails the smoke escapes and then the thing never works again. You have to go to the store and buy a new one that has all the smoke contained.
And wires have a coating on them called insulation. This is to serve as a containment system for the smoke. Whenever I see smoke leaking from a wire sure enough I can see where the insulation has seperated and allowed the smoke to escape.
There now, you have all the information you need to be a electrician. Please pass the rum.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
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From: Poway, Ca.
Frankly, and I know ths is not what you want to hear, but...
I'd strip every piece of old, PO infected, brittle, corroded wire out of the thing, and completely rewire it.
As you said, the early Ford truck wiring is VERY fundamental. Rewiring would take you about 2 days, cost about $200, and turn what will be a regular nightmare from here on out, into a great truck that you will never have to worry about electrically again.
See my #4 gallery for rewiring diagrams.
I'd strip every piece of old, PO infected, brittle, corroded wire out of the thing, and completely rewire it.
As you said, the early Ford truck wiring is VERY fundamental. Rewiring would take you about 2 days, cost about $200, and turn what will be a regular nightmare from here on out, into a great truck that you will never have to worry about electrically again.
See my #4 gallery for rewiring diagrams.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: muscatine abouts
what ever you do dont wire it all in one color. i ran into this on a ih truck that had a fire at one time. took twice as long to trace the wiring. and it looked like a worm bed under the dash
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 16
From: Jonesborough, TN
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 195
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From: Iron Station, NC
The last paint job must have left the wires in place. because around the headlight all of the wires looked green. I was able to scrape back and rub off enough to figure out what color was what. ug.
yup. at some point this will be re-wired.
yup. at some point this will be re-wired.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
GREEN?!?! Was it paint or MOSS!
It's actually harder scraping off all the "Fordomite" and getting the metal clean enough to make good grounds than it is to run the wires.
Shoot yo have your lights done, that 1/3 of a rewire right there! The rest is just engine/ignition/charging; then, accessories (radio, heater, wipers, etc).
It's actually harder scraping off all the "Fordomite" and getting the metal clean enough to make good grounds than it is to run the wires.
Shoot yo have your lights done, that 1/3 of a rewire right there! The rest is just engine/ignition/charging; then, accessories (radio, heater, wipers, etc).
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 195
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From: Iron Station, NC
I'm resisting a radio. It doesn't have one now, and I may not put one in it. We'll see how it goes.
I will need electric wiper and heat sooner or later.
At the moment I just want it ready for the Inspector to come out and check road worthy status. The tail lights are wire nutted in so I can pull the bed after the Inspector leaves.
I will need electric wiper and heat sooner or later.
At the moment I just want it ready for the Inspector to come out and check road worthy status. The tail lights are wire nutted in so I can pull the bed after the Inspector leaves.
