my wiring is more and more jury rigged :(

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oldhalftons
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my wiring is more and more jury rigged :(

Post by oldhalftons »

heater works now. I just ran power through a inline fuse and a toggle switch direct to the motor.


so only a week after my heater issue my headlights are acting up.
Not the common dim flashing at idle, they actually FLASH on and off (only the headlights, the parking lights are fine).

It starts after they have been on 5 min or so, then they shut off, then come back on a few seconds later and shut off and come back on again and again.

If I turn them off it seems to help a bit. When I turn them back on they'll stay on for about 5 min then they start the flashing again. is there a circuit breaker that could be overheating and resetting itself.


This truck is definitely getting a completely new harness and all new switches next year. I think after 36 years the whole harness is just failing :cry:
1969 F100 300/4spd power steering, manual brakes
blue70
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re: my wiring is more and more jury rigged :(

Post by blue70 »

check you dimmer switch it may be going bad or have a loose wire connection.
1970 f-100 stepside 300 i-6 c-4 automatic
1974 f-250 4x4 (woods/mud truck)351w 4speed
1983 ranger 4x4 v-6 4speed
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heep70
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Post by heep70 »

Replace the headlight switch. They do this when they are going bad.
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bluef250
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re: my wiring is more and more jury rigged :(

Post by bluef250 »

The headlight switch has a built in circuit breaker. As it gets weaker, the flicker will continue to get worse. Yours in the most pronounced I have heard. I wonder why the switch has not failed. I assume the out off cycle is relatively constant. If it weren't I check the ground to verify everything is as it should be.
oldhalftons
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Post by oldhalftons »

thanks everyone, It was definatly the switch.

A new switch and the lights STAY on when I turn them on :D
1969 F100 300/4spd power steering, manual brakes
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Post by fordman »

sounds like you had police headlights for a while.
edmccloughloch
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re: my wiring is more and more jury rigged :(

Post by edmccloughloch »

I had the same problem with mine. There is an article on ford trucks about adding in headlight relays so that the power isn't all going through the headlight switch. Its called whiter whites, brighter brights. It really is a good idea, and then you can run the conversion lamps with the h4 bulbs in them. I did it on my former 69 (now trailer) and it was such a nice improvement. Almost time to do it on my new one, if it ever comes back from paint :(
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