[jco69]

Hello, just got a 71 SS and the head lights, running lights, and dash lights dont work. i have turn signals and brake lights. it got dark out by the time i found this out so i haven't had time to start checking, but where do you guys think i should start first?

Thanks,
John

 

[hotrodelco]

Always start with the basics and work from there, the fuse.:texas:

 

[jco69]

so one fuse could be the problem? that would be great

 

[Sharp71]

also... make sure the light switch is turned clockwise.

 

[464elky]

The dash lights are fused. The headlights themselves have a circuit breaker internal in the switch. Power is fed from a separate fusible link to the light circuit. http://www.elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=27190 This will get you to a schematic. It just shows the red wire going to battery + and I didn't see on either page where they were picking it up. Probably a fusible link at the main terminal of the starter solenoid.

 

[jco69]

I checked a few things today, all the fuses look good and i have power at the big red wire going to the switch, no power at the headlights. this thing has a ford relay mounted on the fender well. what else should i be checking or does that narrow it down to the switch?

Thanks guys,
John

 

[464elky]

Turn the headlights on and check for power at the dimmer switch. If none then it is either the switch or the wiring from switch to dimmer. If you have power at the dimmer follow it on out through the firewall connector and see where you loose it.

 

[jco69]

Well, i have power to the dimmer switch, i checked the wiring from the firewall connector and it looks like it may have melted a little at one time! there are some wires taped up right at the firewall, i found one laying there, its brown and goes to what looks like a big black relay above the passenger side head light. and there is also a relay right next to the master cyl that doesnt look like it belongs there (i could be wrong). is there some way to bypass this mess? again, i have no head, marker,tail or dash lights. i have everything else, turn signals, brake lights, back up lights, horn, dome light...

Thanks,
John

 

[jco69]

UPDATE, the green wire going to the headlights has a splice in it so i ran power from the battery right to it and both headlights come on. i checked power out of the headlight switch with the lights on and only the red and light blue wires have power. is that normal or no?

 

[464elky]

No is the short answer. There should be a bunch of wires with power when the switch is all the way on.

 

[gilby]

..Chech the Headlight dimmer switch,the lt.blue wire goes to the dimmer switch. :beer:

 

[harpman1]

Lighting problem

My 71 has a short somewhere, the headlights blink on and off when I turn on the right turn signal. Otherwise, everything works.
Any ideas????

 

[gilby]

..I think someone has tapped into the dark blue wire for the right turn wire with the light blue wire that goes to the dimmer switch,the other two wire comming from the dimmer switch is tan and light green.:dontknow:
:beer:

 

[harpman1]

Ok, I'll check that. Thanks

 

[jco69]

No is the short answer. There should be a bunch of wires with power when the switch is all the way on.

so head light switch then?

 

[jco69]

new head light switch and still no head, marker , or tail lights. where should i check now? i have a new light harness but haven't installed it yet.

 

[jco69]

update, i bypassed the dimmer switch on the floor and my headlights work, would the bad switch stop my marker, tail, and dash lights from working too? could someone tell me how many wires are coming out of your headlight switch? i have white, red, green , lt blue, orange, and brown. in some of the wire diagrams im looking at i see a PPL on both front parking lights that says it goes to the light switch?

Thanks,
John

 

[jco69]

another update, i unplugged the headlight switch and ran power to each wire separately and they all work! so is it another bad headlight switch or does it have something to do with the dimmer switch?

 

[JJLT1]

maybe the red wire,power to the headlight switch is opening up or loosing power with the full load on it??
could be the curcuit breaker or the headlight switch..

the headlight dimmer should not keep the tail,dash,marker lights from working..
unless its shorted out and tripping the curcuit breaker..
sounds like the headlight dimmer switch is bad,, unplug it and see if the other lights work??:texas:

 

[jco69]

new dimmer switch is in, i have headlights now but nothing else. its a new headlight switch, but does it pretty much narrow it done to another bad one?