Some Electrical Problems, please help!

Charging, starting, lighting, gauges, HVAC

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Thunderfoot
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re: Some Electrical Problems, please help!

Post by Thunderfoot »

Glad you got those figured out :thup:

On the Blinkers check the "Turn Signal Flasher" for the turn signals, it is mounted to the back of the instrument panel. See it in this diagram http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... dl83-2.jpg

Also, in this diagram the reverse lights are wires 140 and 140A (Black-Red Stripe) you see where they go through that flat 4 connector? and the jumper wire on the one half of the flat 4 connector?
This diagram is for a manual transmission so you will not have the switch in line like it shows it will be on the column with the neutral safety switch which is on the same side of the connector in the drawing that has that jumper... (Hope I didn't just confuse you here) :eek:

Anyway take and check these wires with the test light to see if you have power to the switch and after the switch...
Shayne
I'm not "Brand Loyal" Ford-Chevy-Dodge-Toyota I have them all, one even cross mixed...
If it Looks good and Works good then it's ok by me. Everything has its issues from time to time...

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pgkeating
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re: Some Electrical Problems, please help!

Post by pgkeating »

Mopar,

Did you get a 12V light? I used it to make sure there's voltage on both sides of the fuses and on the backside of the fuse block. Sounds crazy, but it's in line with the *obvious* wrong bulb, Murphy was an electrician, kinda stuff. A visual inspection may not suffice.

Also, when my old fuse block was in the truck, it had been hanging down (disconnected from the firewall) As I drove, I'd lightly kick the fuse block with my left foot and "stuff" would work or cease to work. That was my clue.

Good luck,

PGK
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Re: re: Some Electrical Problems, please help!

Post by moparmania »

moparmania wrote: I took off some underdash, aftermarket gauges and a brake controller and the washers, blinkers, and reverse lights stopped working.
Ok, I have to come clean. In my previous post, what I failed to tell you is that there was a little flame and flash when I was removing the gauges and brake controller (rookie mistake, I didn't disconnect the battery). I didn't think it (the flame/flash) was a big deal at the time. Well when pgkeating talked about fuse box gremlins, I decided to poke around. I took off the fuse box and the back of it looked good so I reinstalled it. After a few hours of finding nothing in the other wiring, I took off the fuse box again, turned on the key and blinkers, then started jiggling the fuse box. Well what do you know, the blinkers started working (and the washer and the reverse lights too). Jiggled some more, they went off. I then tried to jiggle one wire at a time until I figured out which one it was. It turned out to be the big black one going into the ignition switch. I decided to pull the switch assy to get a better look. Not wanting to make the same mistake, I disconnected the battery this time. I pulled the connector off of the ignition switch and looked at the switch. There was some evidence of burning, but not too bad. I decided to look at the connector plug. Ok on the outside but toast on the inside! The plastic was fried and the terminals burnt. I'm assuming that this is my problem. So I'll have to get a new connector and solder it in. Hopefully the switch is good, but I'll replace that next if the new connector doesn't solve the problem. Another lesson learned: disconnect the battery when you are doing electrical work. :nono:
1972 F100 Shortbox Ranger XLT - 390/Auto
1992 F150 "NITE" 4x4 - 351/Auto
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1972 F100 Shortbox Sport Custom - 390/3spd - Sold
1968 F250 Ranger Camper Special - 390/Auto - Sold
pgkeating
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re: Some Electrical Problems, please help!

Post by pgkeating »

Mopar,
Don't worry, I did the same thing recently. I was trying to get an aux light to work after I had replaced the fusebox. When I stuck the 12v light inside the lighter, I got the same "arc" flash. The fuse looked like someone had splashed solder inside. I replaced the fuse and all was well, but lesson learned.
The old cig lighter element had corroded contacts, for which the corrosion was also on the center contact inside the lighter housing. The lighter/fuse was fine. Prolly hadn't been out of the socket in 20+ years. Live and learn.
Pete
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