Headlights 1931
 

I bought a pick up truck that hasn’t been running for about 12 years.
The lights did not work when I got it. In fact, there were no bulbs in the sockets. I put in new bulbs, but no lights lit up.

I took apart the headlight switch, when I did, the spider gear fell out in my hand. I put together the spring, spider gear and the c clip as I saw on a you tube video. When connected, the gear is straight up and down and the light switch is in the lower center of the steering wheel.

I assumed that by putting it back together, my light should work.

My truck has the main center light and the parking lights which are at about 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock.

When I turned the lights on, either to the left or to the right, three of the four lights light up. There is no change going either way. When I turn the lights on both parking lights go on and one headlight goes on. The driver side headlight will not turn on. There is no power to the ds headlight.

While testing the wires, I noticed that if I stick my test light between the two leads on the passenger side main headlight, the driver side headlight will turn on.

I’ve never owned a Model A so I could use any help You can give me
thank you.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Bad ground

Re: Headlights 1931
 

I agree, bad ground. Also, shouldn't the parking lights both be at 12:00? Sounds like your reflectors are rotated.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

The grounding of the headlight bucket depends on good metallic contact of the bucket to the headlight bar and the bar to the fenders and the fenders to the frame. If there is rust or lots of paint that can restrict the ground. Use your ohm meter to test for a good ground and either correct it or run a ground wire to a place that has a good ground.

The connectors at headlight buckets, especially with repo parts, can be a source of problems. In my car the wires are lead into the buckets where bullet type connectors are used for the individual wires. The stainless connector is still used so that from the outside it looks the same as original.

It sounds like there is some error in the wiring or the switch. It will take some careful analysis to trace down the fault. Depending on what year your car is, you should have only parking lights when the switch is rotated left and low beam when rotated one notch to the right and high beam when rotated two notches to the right, but no parking lights when the headlights are lit.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

OK. I can correct the clocking of the reflectors.

I will work on the grounds.

If i can, start from the beginning. I just disconnected the switch. when i move the lever on the wheel, I can go from 7 to 4. I do not feel any bumps. I assume this is correct because the switch is not connected.

am i correct so far?

I know i am putting the switch together correctly its really hard to mess this up

Re: Headlights 1931
 

The bumps are caused by the triangular contactor passing over the depressions in the plastic "puck".

Re: Headlights 1931
 

You are correct so far.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Thanks, this weekend i may get to spend some time on it
appreciate the help

Re: Headlights 1931
 

I spent all day out in the garage working on the lights. This is what i came up with.

Rear End
I have a brake light
The other light for license plate lights up at 4, 5 and 7 oclock

Front end has new aftermarket light pigtails

Front
Pass side
I have the small marker light at 7 o'clock
It seem that the terminals at 4 and 5 o'clock are backwards.

Driver side
I struggled with this side as everything lit up in incorrect positions.
I have read on line that the aftermarket pigtail are not so i good.
Thinking that the wires may have been incorrectly installed by the previous owner, I cut the wires after they entered the headlight bucket and tested them to see how they lit up. I was able to duplicate the passenger side light positions. I connected the pigtail to the cut wires.
The only negative is that the high and low lights seemed dimmer on the driver side than on the pass side
The small marker light seemed as bright as the pass side.

Is there something going on that i am missing here?

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Do you have the same CP (candle power) bulb in each side? Same voltage per side? Clean reflectors?

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Could be poor ground on starboard side (driver side).

Re: Headlights 1931
 

And we've gone full circle, bad ground was mentioned in post#2.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

I will check voltage tomorrow. good point

same bulbs, brand new, just bought from same supplier

good grounds for sure.

For the rear, the were no grounds, the light bracket was mounted to wood olly. Not sure how previous owner got an inspection sticker.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

I checked my voltage on the driver side headlights. I only have 4.7 volts on this side.
Driver side marker lights are at 5.7 volts and bright
alternator wire stud is 6 volts

so does that mean a short on driver side wires?

Re: Headlights 1931
 

4.7 volts would most likely be a loose or dirty connection.
The tail light mounted to the wood block should ground through
the bolt that hold the bracket to the bed.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Double-check this. Where the taillight hooks up to the arm/bracket take a wire wheel and make sure all the paint is off the bracket. Clean the backside of the taillight(s) as well.

Where the headlight attaches to the arm, take a wire wheel and clean out the round dish that the headlight bolts to on the headlight bar.

Take a round 1/2" wire brush and clean out all of the locations where a bulb would be inserted.

In the headlights check the wires that are attached to the device that the bulb plugs into.

#4 post has it nailed.

You mentioned that you never have owned an A, you will soon find out that this is both the frustration and love for these cars.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

thanks for all the help. I thought i had all the wires set and working, although not bright.
I took the truck for a drive on my long driveway. when i came back, all the lights were messed up, like really messed up.
I brought it in the garage. Just then a guy from the local club who i had been talking to, came in with a new harness and some ideas.
I explained what happened. We took apart the headlight switch. He thinks the contacts on the switch seem worn out.
I plan on buying a new switch tomorrow and see what that does with my harness. If that does not work, i will replace the harness.
I have excellent grounds on the headlight buckets. I cleaned everything with a wire wheel. Its not the grounds. But i do appreciate the help
I am not going to quit, i understand this is part of owning an old car.
I will report back

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Sounds like you are making progress with the wiring and switch.

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Today, i installed a new headlight switch with the old harness. No difference, still hap hazaard/haywire lights.

I then took a new harness and powered it up at the alternator- yes its an alternator and laid out the wires as they would be installed. A test first before install.

The front lights worked as they should. so it was probably the harness.

When i install the harness for good, i will try the old switch with the new harness to see if it works.

I prefer to use the old switch. for a few reasons. The first is that the new switch is one inch shorter than the old switch which is creating a problem with the clamp/spring/latch that holds it in place.

Thanks for the help

Re: Headlights 1931
 

Since my last post, I bought a new headlight switch and new harness.
I mocked it up on the column by just disconnecting the old harness and hooking up the new, and tested all the wires. All was good. Every wire worked as it was supposed to.
I removed the old harness and began to install the new harness and new switch. Once I had the passenger side done, I turned on the lights and I had the same problem again. Two lights on at a time. i have good grounds.
When I take the cloth harness off of the headlight and test, all is well again.
i don't think the harness or switch were bad, i think the problem is in the headlight connections.
What is happening when i hook up the cloth harness pins into the plastic sleeve that holds the pins in the back of the headlight? somehow the headlight pigtails are touching/ shorting, but where?