The Ford Barn

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 06:39 PM

I have a 1938 Ford Sedan and my head lights won't come on. I'm new to these Fords. Is there a fuse box on a 38? If anyone can offer some advice I'd sure appreciate it. It was converted to 12 volt and was working just fine then quit. Just got the car about a week ago so I'm learning.

Regards,

Jerry

RKS.PA · 04-27-2019, 06:47 PM

Hi, Jerry,

Welcome to the Barn! You've come to the right place.

There may be a fuse and there may not be in your light circuit, depending upon what the previous owner(s) may have done with the wiring. I've had this issue with my '39 and it was as simple as a bad ground.

I'd start at the headlight buckets making sure your grounds are good and work your way back from there. You didn't mention it, but do you parking light work??

Good luck.....Dick.

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 06:56 PM

Thanks. Actually just found out brakes or parking aren't working!

40cpe · 04-27-2019, 06:50 PM

The switch sends the power to the dimmer switch. The dimmer sends it to the high or low beams. Check for power there with the headlights turned to the on position.

Do the parking lights work when switched to parking lights only?

FortyNiner · 04-27-2019, 07:03 PM

Were the bulbs converted to 12 volt as well?

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 07:17 PM

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Not sure. I think so. Maybe not.

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 07:18 PM

I don't think this car has a dimmer switch or at least I don't find it anywhere....

40cpe · 04-27-2019, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo54

I don't think this car has a dimmer switch or at least I don't find it anywhere....

The DeLuxe did, I'm not sure about the standard model. The Deluxe has one switch position on either side of "off". If it has no dimmer on the floor, there will be two positions on one side of "off".

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 08:21 PM

Thanks. Mines a standard and doesn't have the dimmer....

JSeery · 04-27-2019, 07:48 PM

Is it a standard or a deluxe? If it has be converted to 12v it would be hard to know what else was changed. The original diagram may or may not help. There was originally one fuse for all of the lighting circuits. So, it could be the fuse. The fuse was on a panel under the dash along with the ballast resistor (which is most likely not used if it is 12v). The original fuse panel would look something like the attachment.

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 08:22 PM

Mines a Standard. I found the fuse and it's OK. Changed it anyway but still no lights...

JSeery · 04-27-2019, 08:38 PM

Well you need to get out a voltmeter or circuit tester and starting at the fuse block check for power. You should be able to see where to check from the wiring diagram. The light control switch is at the base of the steering column. If none of the lights are working it about has to be the power into the light switch or something in the switch itself. For reference, the lighting circuit is "hot" all the time and has nothing to do with the ignition switch. Again this is all assuming it has not been modified from the original other than the conversion to 12v. While you are at it might check and be sure you have 12v bulbs installed and not 6v that just burnt out on 12v.

wahoo54 · 04-27-2019, 10:01 PM

I'll do that tomorrow. They're working now which tells me theres a bad connection somwhere, so, out with the volt meter tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. More tomorrow.

JSeery · 04-28-2019, 07:57 AM

Ok, that sounds like progress!

rotorwrench · 04-28-2019, 08:18 AM

Intermittent operation indicates either a loose connection or a bad wire. I'd be looking at condition of the wiring. The old cloth covered wire has life limits even if well kept.The switch has a wire bale that holds it on so it can be opened up for inspection. It gets dirty down there if the car is driven in funky weather too much.

cas3 · 04-28-2019, 10:47 AM

when everything goes at once, i'd be looking at the fuse holder. see if the spring action is gone and the fuse is just sitting there loose

wahoo54 · 04-29-2019, 06:31 PM

Good idea. It's good though. Thanks.

RKS.PA · 04-29-2019, 10:29 PM

Jerry, in post #4 above, you said the brake lights aren't working either. Then in post #13, you said the lights were working. Did that include the brake lights? And, have you had a chance to do your volt meter checks? Also, what shape is your wiring harness in, as rotorwrench asked above? I had a situation when my cloth wiring harness was so bad....no lights, including brake lights, that no amount of splicing could revive it.... finally, new wiring harness solved the problem.

wahoo54 · 06-08-2019, 05:55 PM

Thanks RKS.PA. Yes the brke lights worked when the head lights came on. It's all new wiring and there was a loose connection on the fuse block after all. Working now but my dome light won't come on. IS there seperate fuse for the dome lights? Thanks for the advice!

JSeery · 06-08-2019, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoo54

Thanks RKS.PA. Yes the brke lights worked when the head lights came on. It's all new wiring and there was a loose connection on the fuse block after all. Working now but my dome light won't come on. IS there seperate fuse for the dome lights? Thanks for the advice!

No, there is only one fuse in the 38 Fords. If you check the diagram in post #9 the dome light(s) are wired directly to the fuse panel. There is a switch and then the dome lights.

04-27-2019, 06:47 PM	#2
RKS.PA Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oro Valley, AZ Posts: 1,241	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Hi, Jerry, Welcome to the Barn! You've come to the right place. There may be a fuse and there may not be in your light circuit, depending upon what the previous owner(s) may have done with the wiring. I've had this issue with my '39 and it was as simple as a bad ground. I'd start at the headlight buckets making sure your grounds are good and work your way back from there. You didn't mention it, but do you parking light work?? Good luck.....Dick.

04-27-2019, 06:56 PM	#3
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Thanks. Actually just found out brakes or parking aren't working!

04-27-2019, 07:03 PM	#5
FortyNiner Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin Posts: 1,244	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Were the bulbs converted to 12 volt as well? __________________ 19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built 1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it

04-27-2019, 07:17 PM	#6
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Not sure. I think so. Maybe not.

04-27-2019, 07:18 PM	#7
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan I don't think this car has a dimmer switch or at least I don't find it anywhere....

04-27-2019, 06:39 PM	#1
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan I have a 1938 Ford Sedan and my head lights won't come on. I'm new to these Fords. Is there a fuse box on a 38? If anyone can offer some advice I'd sure appreciate it. It was converted to 12 volt and was working just fine then quit. Just got the car about a week ago so I'm learning. Regards, Jerry

04-27-2019, 06:50 PM	#4
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,120	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan The switch sends the power to the dimmer switch. The dimmer sends it to the high or low beams. Check for power there with the headlights turned to the on position. Do the parking lights work when switched to parking lights only?

04-27-2019, 08:21 PM	#9
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Thanks. Mines a standard and doesn't have the dimmer....

04-27-2019, 08:22 PM	#11
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Mines a Standard. I found the fuse and it's OK. Changed it anyway but still no lights...

04-27-2019, 08:38 PM	#12
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Well you need to get out a voltmeter or circuit tester and starting at the fuse block check for power. You should be able to see where to check from the wiring diagram. The light control switch is at the base of the steering column. If none of the lights are working it about has to be the power into the light switch or something in the switch itself. For reference, the lighting circuit is "hot" all the time and has nothing to do with the ignition switch. Again this is all assuming it has not been modified from the original other than the conversion to 12v. While you are at it might check and be sure you have 12v bulbs installed and not 6v that just burnt out on 12v. Last edited by JSeery; 06-08-2019 at 08:20 PM.

04-27-2019, 10:01 PM	#13
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan I'll do that tomorrow. They're working now which tells me theres a bad connection somwhere, so, out with the volt meter tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. More tomorrow.

04-28-2019, 07:57 AM	#14
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Ok, that sounds like progress!

04-28-2019, 08:18 AM	#15
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,411	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Intermittent operation indicates either a loose connection or a bad wire. I'd be looking at condition of the wiring. The old cloth covered wire has life limits even if well kept.The switch has a wire bale that holds it on so it can be opened up for inspection. It gets dirty down there if the car is driven in funky weather too much.

04-28-2019, 10:47 AM	#16
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,301	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan when everything goes at once, i'd be looking at the fuse holder. see if the spring action is gone and the fuse is just sitting there loose

04-29-2019, 06:31 PM	#17
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Good idea. It's good though. Thanks.

04-29-2019, 10:29 PM	#18
RKS.PA Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oro Valley, AZ Posts: 1,241	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Jerry, in post #4 above, you said the brake lights aren't working either. Then in post #13, you said the lights were working. Did that include the brake lights? And, have you had a chance to do your volt meter checks? Also, what shape is your wiring harness in, as rotorwrench asked above? I had a situation when my cloth wiring harness was so bad....no lights, including brake lights, that no amount of splicing could revive it.... finally, new wiring harness solved the problem.

06-08-2019, 05:55 PM	#19
wahoo54 Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 51	Re: Lights won't work in my 1938 Tudor Sedan Thanks RKS.PA. Yes the brke lights worked when the head lights came on. It's all new wiring and there was a loose connection on the fuse block after all. Working now but my dome light won't come on. IS there seperate fuse for the dome lights? Thanks for the advice!