tail light wiring.

[mudslut79]

Just to mention, Yes it is a flatbed so it does not have factory lights. The body (77' 1/2 ton that is in excellent condition) was placed on a 76' 3/4 ton running gear. I dont normally agree with "hacking" up a classic but my hat is off for the person who put it together. The truck is in great shape. The truck is unaware it is hacked up, shhhh.

My friend is coming over today to look at the light. We briefly looked at it over a few beers and it looks like the ground is part of the light housing. What we are thinking is drill a hole in the back of the housing and screw a wire into it and onto the frame. It just seems strange that it doesnt have that yet the other light works perfect.

I am actually haveing the same problem checked all the grounds everythings hooked up still doesnt work. I even cleaned the metal for the grounds.

 

[m78]

What about a ground strap from the bed to the frame. If the bed mounting bolts have surface rust between the nut and the bed and the same at other points it could cause a problem.
Just like trying to rely on the trailer hitch ball for a ground. Just doesn't work all the time

-------------------------- Naaugh,That would be to simple--

 

[Alvin in AZ]

I've never had a problem with a ground wire connection on my pickup.

Every time it has been the socket itself just not making good contact
with the bulb or the socket has a broken metal part inside of it.

Alvin in AZ

 

[Wow]

Just wanted to shoot a couple pics of my truck.
We found the problem with the lights. Its the blinker column switch. The contacts are dirty. I had no Idea the brake interupt is there. After taking the wheel off We could move the switch and get lights. Tomorrow I will get some contact cleaner and try to get it working. If thats not going to work, I'll replace it. Thanks for the help.

One of my Sons, Braxton, Is showing me its Ford tough. hehehe
Welding On Wheels is the business name.

Its a 460, I think....

 

[smokey]

Glad to hear you found the trouble with the lights. Having had flat beds on a few trucks normally it is ground problems.

 

[Wow]

Actually, there was a bad ground connection on the light that was causing it to be dim, I fixed that and still didnt have brake light. Thanks.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

Actually, there was a bad ground connection on the light that was
causing it to be dim, I fixed that and still didnt have brake light.

Now that I think about it a little more, every time I've taken a taillight lens
out I've removed the ground wire and clean the surface and screw it back
down and put a dab of grease on it. Prob'ly done that a half dozen times
over the life of the pickup?

That plus being in Arizona and having added a couple ground cables too,
is prob'ly why I've never had a ground problem on my pickup -ever- and
had it since Feb '75.

Cool picture of your kid and engine, the engine picture reminded me my
pickup came with only one horn and I went the only junk yard in Bowie AZ
and Mel Jackson RIP gave me a couple horns. I mounted them "outside"...

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/horns.jpg

Also I notice your battery terminals were pretty and clean! LOL
They won't be for long tho. See how dirty and oily mine look?
That's a bright green felt washer under my battery's ground cable. LOL

Since that's your work truck, figured I'd should mention those two things?

As a railroad signal battery maintainer we used NO-OX-ID grease to keep
the lead/acid battery connections clean but I noticed even in Arizona it
was too thick and would allow some white corrosion to grow, so I thinned
it with motor oil. I found out it worked a -lot- better. As I used that
particular can of grease up I added more motor oil on and on until it was
basically pure motor oil. I eventually switched to pure 30 weight motor oil
and found out it still worked better than the NO-OX-ID grease for battery
terminals. No kidding on that.

The pretty little felt washers work great too, -if- you soak 'em with several
drops of motor oil. LOL They actually do help when done that way.

Anyway that's what I fiNgured out all by myself.

YMMV?

Alvin in AZ
ps- Hey Ben, see what I mean about doing the -little- things?
pps- I realize that kind of crazy thinking/doing ain't for ever'body tho!

 

[Mil1ion]

as per my first reply

To start with ..Everything runs through the Turn signal switch

 

[Wow]

as per my first reply

Dont you just love it when your right.

It just surprised me that the brake lights go threw the switch but it makes sense now, thanks.

 

[MBBFord]

I'm having trouble with the brake lights on my 77 F100. For a while, they'd work when they wanted to, but now the brake lights don't work at all. The tail lights(running/park) work fine, and so do the turn signals.

Bulbs are new, I'm thinking it's the socket it's self, but it's probably in the wiring somewhere...

Any tips/ideas?

 

[smokey]

Check your Brake pedal switch to see if it is working correctly.

 

[LEB Ben]

Check your Brake pedal switch to see if it is working correctly.

Agree with that...then I would check out the sockets, simply because it's easiest, then I'd get to work with a test light on that rear harness.

 

[LEB Paul]

^what they said. Make sure switch on the brake pedal is adjusted properly.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

-x3
That's the math symbols for minus times three...
I don't agree with the last 3 guys. LOL

I say get a meter and -let it show you- where the problem is before you go
messing with the wires and switches and stuff and clear the trouble up
only temporarily. BTDT and learned my lesson.

I do agree with them about where the problems prob'ly are as opposed to
the chances that both sockets are only having trouble in the brake + turn
signal contact.

But stranger things have happened and more than one electrical problem
can show up at once too (two?.

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=MGI&MfrPartNumber=5898&CategoryCode=3389B

Too bad understanding electricity and using a meter wasn't part of the
public school's curriculum, Ohm's Law would have fit real nice in algebra
class.

I like to use the "emergency switch" to test those bulbs, YMMV on that?

Alvin is contrary as hell in AZ

 

[Wow]

since it was working on the left, wouldnt that mean the brake switch is fine?

Its all about the turn signal switch!

 

[murffd]

my 73 f-100 electrical mess

So hey guys I'm new with this so my signals all work new brake pedal switch new bulbs only no hazards no brake lights no ignition and no elect choke is it all attached do I need to rewire it all? What can I cancel out or do ?

 

[Alvin in AZ]

What can I ...do ?

A professional would use a meter...

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=MGI&MfrPartNumber=5898&CategoryCode=3389B

and the wiring diagrams...

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/re...tName=WIRING+DIAGRAMS&partId=0900c1528005556b

Have yourself some fun!

Alvin in AZ

 

[murffd]

hello

wel im a new guy at this stuff so lets got a 73 f100 ranger 390 big block custom paint and interior just put in rebuilt moter and all sorts is going wrong but tryin to pull her together