The Ford Barn

Hank the 36 · 09-09-2013, 12:42 PM

A few weeks ago I drove my 36 home after the sunset and I drove home with my headlights on. I left my headlights on and 2 weeks later I found out that my headlights and tail lights don't work. Is it the switch ? The car in question is 6v positive ground.

Thank you,
H36

rotorwrench · 09-09-2013, 12:57 PM

You might have blown a fuse or something got hot enough to burn open a circuit in the switch or a wire . It your points were closed, you may also have problems with the ignition resistor or coil.

Hank the 36 · 09-09-2013, 03:23 PM

Thanks rotorwrech, but the car starts and run just fine. I will have a look at the fuse again but the first time everything looked OK.

H36

Rustyspokes · 09-09-2013, 10:52 PM

Do the Brake lights work ? maybe the bulbs have died on the running filament part of the bulbs ... JMHO..

JM 35 Sedan · 09-09-2013, 11:10 PM

Sometimes bad fuses "look" good. You need to remove at least one end of the fuse from the holder connection and test the fuse with an ohmmeter. The same thing happened on a friends '36 and he said the fuse checked good. I suggested he repeat the test with the fuse removed from holder. Sho nuff, the fuse checked open. Lent him a spare fuse and he saw the light.

Hank the 36 · 09-10-2013, 09:26 AM

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The brake lights don't work either. I will check the fuse again and replace if needed.
Thanks guys,
H36

ford3 · 09-10-2013, 08:59 PM

right now your volt meter is your best friend, see if you have juice to the switch, see if you have juice thru the switch, if so with switch still on see if you have juice to the light sockets, ive known the bulbs to get hot enough to melt the solder on the bulbs contact points and loose connection, if no juice to sockets you have either a blown fuse, a broken wire or a bad ground

09-09-2013, 12:42 PM	#1
Hank the 36 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South of LA Posts: 90	Headlight issue A few weeks ago I drove my 36 home after the sunset and I drove home with my headlights on. I left my headlights on and 2 weeks later I found out that my headlights and tail lights don't work. Is it the switch ? The car in question is 6v positive ground. Thank you, H36 __________________ Thank you, H36

09-09-2013, 12:57 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: Headlight issue You might have blown a fuse or something got hot enough to burn open a circuit in the switch or a wire . It your points were closed, you may also have problems with the ignition resistor or coil.

09-09-2013, 03:23 PM	#3
Hank the 36 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South of LA Posts: 90	Re: Headlight issue Thanks rotorwrech, but the car starts and run just fine. I will have a look at the fuse again but the first time everything looked OK. H36 __________________ Thank you, H36

09-09-2013, 10:52 PM	#4
Rustyspokes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Coast Canada B.C. Interior Posts: 332	Re: Headlight issue Do the Brake lights work ? maybe the bulbs have died on the running filament part of the bulbs ... JMHO..

09-09-2013, 11:10 PM	#5
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Headlight issue Sometimes bad fuses "look" good. You need to remove at least one end of the fuse from the holder connection and test the fuse with an ohmmeter. The same thing happened on a friends '36 and he said the fuse checked good. I suggested he repeat the test with the fuse removed from holder. Sho nuff, the fuse checked open. Lent him a spare fuse and he saw the light. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

09-10-2013, 09:26 AM	#6
Hank the 36 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South of LA Posts: 90	Re: Headlight issue Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The brake lights don't work either. I will check the fuse again and replace if needed. Thanks guys, H36 __________________ Thank you, H36

09-10-2013, 08:59 PM	#7
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: Headlight issue right now your volt meter is your best friend, see if you have juice to the switch, see if you have juice thru the switch, if so with switch still on see if you have juice to the light sockets, ive known the bulbs to get hot enough to melt the solder on the bulbs contact points and loose connection, if no juice to sockets you have either a blown fuse, a broken wire or a bad ground