Tail Lights Question

ScottT80 · Post by **ScottT80** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:36 pm

My tail lights work fine in the parking light position, but when I pull the headlights on, the tail lights go out. Where should I be looking to fix this? In the light switch itself? I rarely drive the truck at night but with winter coming on I'd like to fix this.

basketcase0302 · Post by **basketcase0302** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:18 pm

If you had your year truck in your "signature" I could post the wiring diagram for it-as well as which wire to look for power on.
I'd take a guess at this point it would be the switch-you could check this by finding the brown/tan wire from the switch leading to the rear parking lights and test for power with the switch on.

ScottT80 · Post by **ScottT80** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:14 pm

Just updated my signature on here. This is the 390 truck I'm having issues with. I'll check that brown/tan wire out tomorrow.

basketcase0302 · Post by **basketcase0302** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:09 am

Wire#11/11A on this comes from your headlight switch and feeds the parking lights:

And this chart shows the wire color to be black with a yellow stripe coming from the headlight switch:

An easy way to troubleshoot this is to unhook the battery / pull the headlight switch out (I don't think you can get the test lead of a meter onto the terminal ends with the switch mounted in the dash) / then hook the battery back up and test the black with yellow stripe wire. Many here will tell you to pierce the wires jacket with a probe to test-I will not.

Effie_70 · Post by **Effie_70** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:20 pm

still cant get mine to work on my 70...I gave up

Good luck!

ScottT80 · Post by **ScottT80** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:23 pm

I'm still having issues with mine. The brake lights are working good, but the tail lights go out with the headlights on... I don't understand why they work in the parking light setting though. I think it may be time for a new switch, as the wiring itself looks fine.

basketcase0302 · Post by **basketcase0302** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 5:59 am

ScottT80 on Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:23 pm
I'm still having issues with mine. The brake lights are working good, but the tail lights go out with the headlights on... I don't understand why they work in the parking light setting though. I think it may be time for a new switch, as the wiring itself looks fine.

Have you tested wire#11/11A as advised above with a test light or voltage meter? And did you have power on it with the switch in the headlight on position?

ScottT80 · Post by **ScottT80** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:15 pm

I finally managed to check it with the volt meter today... no power in the headlight setting.

basketcase0302 · Post by **basketcase0302** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:20 am

ScottT80 on Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:15 pm
I finally managed to check it with the volt meter today... no power in the headlight setting.

I would say the switch is bad.

The FORDification.com Forums

Tail Lights Question

Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question

Re: Tail Lights Question