The Ford Barn

Jay in Mass · 06-30-2012, 04:26 PM

The headlights on my 1940 Ford coupe just stopped working. I probed the three wires at the headlight switch and there is no juice. Would someone please tell me where the juice comes from? Should I be looking for some sort of an in line fuse? There is not much room under that dash for poking around. The stop lights do work.
Any and all help would be apprciated.
Thank you all in advance

V8COOPMAN · 06-30-2012, 06:52 PM

ALMOST has to be in the headlight SWITCH. As can be seen in the link below to Mac Van Pelts schematic for a '40 DeLuxe, virtually all of the lighting is powered from the CIRCUIT BREAKER. You indicated that the stop lights work. That would indicate that the breaker is CLOSED, and SHOULD BE powering the INPUT side of the headlight switch. Click the link! DD

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...ing1940dlx.jpg

Bob G/Spanaway · 06-30-2012, 09:52 PM

There's a circuit breaker on the inside of the firewall. It's up high about in line with the speedometer.
You might check for loose wires and see if juice is going through it.

Jay in Mass · 06-30-2012, 10:10 PM

DD Thanks for the link to the diagram. Bob I tested the two terminals on the circuit breaker with a test light and it lights up on the right side, but is dead on the left side. Would it be Ok to put a jumper wire across the two terminals to check if that is the problem?

Terry,OH · 07-01-2012, 05:41 AM

Yes you can jumper the thermal overload relay to see if this is the problem. Don't leave jumper on and drive. It probably opened circuit due to some overload in the circuit, it is supposed to close by itself and then reopen if the problem still exist. The contacts may be dirty, and they can be cleaned with a point file. Have to pry open the cage and close it when done.

Jay in Mass · 07-01-2012, 11:23 AM

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Terry
Thanks a lot for that information!!! I'm going to jump it tomorrow and see if it the lights work. If it does, I'll remove it and do what you said. I will keep everyone posted on how it turns out. Until then, I'm limited to daytime only driving with the 40.
Jay

41LjH · 07-01-2012, 04:29 PM

Check the current at the dimmer switch. If the dimmer switch fails you have no headlights, I know it happened to me..

Jay in Mass · 07-01-2012, 06:38 PM

41LjH
Thanks I'll check out the dimmer switch tomorrow also. I want to take the 40 out tomorrow night.

06-30-2012, 04:26 PM	#1
Jay in Mass Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mass. Posts: 379	1940 Ford headlight question The headlights on my 1940 Ford coupe just stopped working. I probed the three wires at the headlight switch and there is no juice. Would someone please tell me where the juice comes from? Should I be looking for some sort of an in line fuse? There is not much room under that dash for poking around. The stop lights do work. Any and all help would be apprciated. Thank you all in advance

06-30-2012, 06:52 PM	#2
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,106	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question ALMOST has to be in the headlight SWITCH. As can be seen in the link below to Mac Van Pelts schematic for a '40 DeLuxe, virtually all of the lighting is powered from the CIRCUIT BREAKER. You indicated that the stop lights work. That would indicate that the breaker is CLOSED, and SHOULD BE powering the INPUT side of the headlight switch. Click the link! DD http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...ing1940dlx.jpg __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

06-30-2012, 09:52 PM	#3
Bob G/Spanaway Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Spanaway, Washington Posts: 344	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question There's a circuit breaker on the inside of the firewall. It's up high about in line with the speedometer. You might check for loose wires and see if juice is going through it.

06-30-2012, 10:10 PM	#4
Jay in Mass Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mass. Posts: 379	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question DD Thanks for the link to the diagram. Bob I tested the two terminals on the circuit breaker with a test light and it lights up on the right side, but is dead on the left side. Would it be Ok to put a jumper wire across the two terminals to check if that is the problem?

07-01-2012, 05:41 AM	#5
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,743	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question Yes you can jumper the thermal overload relay to see if this is the problem. Don't leave jumper on and drive. It probably opened circuit due to some overload in the circuit, it is supposed to close by itself and then reopen if the problem still exist. The contacts may be dirty, and they can be cleaned with a point file. Have to pry open the cage and close it when done.

07-01-2012, 11:23 AM	#6
Jay in Mass Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mass. Posts: 379	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Terry Thanks a lot for that information!!! I'm going to jump it tomorrow and see if it the lights work. If it does, I'll remove it and do what you said. I will keep everyone posted on how it turns out. Until then, I'm limited to daytime only driving with the 40. Jay

07-01-2012, 04:29 PM	#7
41LjH Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NW North Carolina Posts: 461	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question Check the current at the dimmer switch. If the dimmer switch fails you have no headlights, I know it happened to me.. __________________ 3 pedals, 3 gears, no valve-covers.. *Now THAT* is a hot rod** !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmwwB34vxJE

07-01-2012, 06:38 PM	#8
Jay in Mass Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mass. Posts: 379	Re: 1940 Ford headlight question 41LjH Thanks I'll check out the dimmer switch tomorrow also. I want to take the 40 out tomorrow night.

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