wiring problems !!!!!! goin crazy

[junkyarddog82]

i haveb been working on my 70 f100 the past couple weeks. i actually just got some info on here about doing an electronic ignition conversion. today i was hooking stuff up so i could make sure the engine turned over by the key and i wanted to check out some of the lights. i guess thats where my problems started. heres whats going on:

all wiring is hooked up excpet my hot wire to my ignition box, which has nothing to do with this anyway.

i turn the key to the crank position and nothing happens.

my headlights will light up.

i do have turn signal problems and no brake lights. also my pass side taillight only works sometimes. but i can mess with the rear harness or change it with another one i have later. my main concern right now is figuring out why the engine wont crank from the key. the red and brown wires are in the correct location. i wasn't sure if the ignition switch was a problem so i swapped with one out of a parts truck that i know worked 2 days ago. if anyone has any ideas please point me in the right direction. ive been looking at wiring diagrams and such and im not getting anywhere.

also my brain isn't working very well since ive been battling this wiring all day, and its been a long hot day. i planned on changing the turn signal switch because i have a feeling its bad. could this be contributing to my brake light problems, or is that more than likely my brake light switch.

[72BahamaBlue]

Manual or auto trans?
For auto, try start while in neutral. NSSwitch may be bad or out of adjustment.
If you haven't already, go through every ground and connection for the lights battery and ignition. Make sure a cab to engine ground exists.
Hope you sort it out soon!

[junkyarddog82]

Ill give that a shot and see what I can make of it. My truck is a standard. Started life as a 4 speed but I put a 5 speed in it.

[junkyarddog82]

well i learned a couple things today. my ignition wire is broke somewhere under the dash. i ran a temporary hot wire off the ignition to the solenoid and it works as its should. so i gotta get that wired in permenant. i also learned that there were wires broke inside the turn signal switch, so that explains my turn signal problems, for now. does this possibly explain my brake light problems too? one side of my brake light switch is hot. i jumped across it and it didn't light up the brake lights. i guess ill know more once i change the turn signal switch. i guess ill keep posted as i change out that stuff and see if i have more problems or not.

[Racer Z]

The brake light and rear turn signal share the same bulb/filament. First check the bulb to make sure it's not bad. The turn signal switch on the column controls how the signal/brake light works, it all goes through that one switch. Also, the turn signals won't work unless the ignition is on, but the brake will work with the ignition off. I think there is a separate fuse for the left/right sides, so check that too.

[junkyarddog82]

Most of that stuff I know. I mess with cars quite a bit but electrical is not my strong point. One turn signal worked but it blinked on the wrong side. Other signal didn't work but there was a broken wire or 2 in the switch. Neither brake light lit up. I guess I'm going to go with the turn signal switch swap and then fix my solenoid wire and see what happens from there. I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks

[Racer Z]

When I rewired my 70, I used a turn signal switch from a different year and the color codes were different. I got the wires hooked up wrong and it worked kind of like what you described. The wrong side worked and the other side did not, and the brake lights were goofy. I finally got the turn signal switch wired correctly and it all came together.

I need to come clean and tell you that I had some help doing this last re-wire bit.

[basketcase0302]

I've never seen our turn signal switches any cheaper than this. But I'd definitely confirm fitment on your truck first, (as well as the sellers feedback) as like Racer Z stated the switches did change through the years. There are at least two different versions of the switch for our trucks that I know of.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Column-Shi ... ce&vxp=mtr

[junkyarddog82]

Thanks for the link. I actually have a 69 parts truck and the switch looks the same. If that ones no good then a buddy of mine has a bunch of 67-72 stuff. We live about a mile from each other. He always gets 67-72 trucks and I get all the 73-79 trucks.