The Ford Barn

Standing Elk · 02-25-2022, 12:17 PM

Ok so I think I may have it figgured out but wanted to ask before ordering new parts. My head lights are pretty dim. ALL connections are clean and tight. However my coupe does still have the origional wiring harness. I had trouble with the horn not wanting to work corretly and solved that issue with a relay, So what do ya think, do I need to replace the wiring harness? Thanks

Kurt in NJ · 02-25-2022, 12:35 PM

There's also the "other wire", the ground path.
On my car new lock washers fixed the ground path, they were rusty.
With the lens off take a wire from good ground and touch to bulb base,
Even touching the focus adjusting screw ( is that rusty??)

Standing Elk · 02-25-2022, 12:56 PM

Kurt, I will give that a look, thanks

Ted Duke · 02-25-2022, 08:01 PM

It is possible your switch has corrosion. Easy to check.

Bill G · 02-25-2022, 10:16 PM

Dim lights are an indication of resistance somewhere in the path of wires from the battery to the lights.

Besides the ground, there is a distinct path of wires and connections to follow and look for bad connections, bad solder joints and corrosion.

Start with the battery connection. Make sure it is clean and tight.
From there, the cable goes to the starter post. If you have a fuse mounted at the starter, that is in series with the solid yellow wire going to the junction box at the firewall.
From there, a second solid wire to the ammeter, and from the other side of the ammeter, a yellow/black wire back to the other side of the junction box.
From there, the yellow/black goes to the generator cut-out or the terminal on the alternator (depending on which you have).
A solid yellow wire then goes to the light switch.

Examine the wires and connections at each end of each wire all along this path for bad connections. Some lower quality repop wiring harnesses were only crimped and not soldered.

Also, if the wiring to the lights has ever been cut and spliced, look carefully at any and all splice jobs.

eagle · 02-25-2022, 10:32 PM

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put a voltmeter right on the wiring at the back of the light. What is the voltage there vs the voltage at the battery. Shouldn't be much difference. If there is, keep checking at points closer and closer to the power source, you'll find if there is a drop you have a bad connection. As stated above, also check all the grounds. If the original wire insulation is good, no reason to replace the wiring. People love to throw parts at their poor old A, most times it causes more problems than it solves.

nkaminar · 02-26-2022, 08:07 AM

My headlights are much brighter after my cataract surgery.

Patrick L. · 02-26-2022, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

my headlights are much brighter after my cataract surgery.

:d:d:d:d:d

fried okra · 02-27-2022, 08:39 PM

I didn't notice, are you running 6V or 12V?

02-25-2022, 12:17 PM	#1
Standing Elk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: St. Maries, Idaho Posts: 162	Head light ?? Ok so I think I may have it figgured out but wanted to ask before ordering new parts. My head lights are pretty dim. ALL connections are clean and tight. However my coupe does still have the origional wiring harness. I had trouble with the horn not wanting to work corretly and solved that issue with a relay, So what do ya think, do I need to replace the wiring harness? Thanks

02-25-2022, 12:35 PM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: Head light ?? There's also the "other wire", the ground path. On my car new lock washers fixed the ground path, they were rusty. With the lens off take a wire from good ground and touch to bulb base, Even touching the focus adjusting screw ( is that rusty??)

02-25-2022, 12:56 PM	#3
Standing Elk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: St. Maries, Idaho Posts: 162	Re: Head light ?? Kurt, I will give that a look, thanks

02-25-2022, 08:01 PM	#4
Ted Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fairfield, Virginia Posts: 615	Re: Head light ?? It is possible your switch has corrosion. Easy to check.

02-25-2022, 10:16 PM	#5
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Head light ?? Dim lights are an indication of resistance somewhere in the path of wires from the battery to the lights. Besides the ground, there is a distinct path of wires and connections to follow and look for bad connections, bad solder joints and corrosion. Start with the battery connection. Make sure it is clean and tight. From there, the cable goes to the starter post. If you have a fuse mounted at the starter, that is in series with the solid yellow wire going to the junction box at the firewall. From there, a second solid wire to the ammeter, and from the other side of the ammeter, a yellow/black wire back to the other side of the junction box. From there, the yellow/black goes to the generator cut-out or the terminal on the alternator (depending on which you have). A solid yellow wire then goes to the light switch. Examine the wires and connections at each end of each wire all along this path for bad connections. Some lower quality repop wiring harnesses were only crimped and not soldered. Also, if the wiring to the lights has ever been cut and spliced, look carefully at any and all splice jobs.

02-25-2022, 10:32 PM	#6
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Head light ?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) put a voltmeter right on the wiring at the back of the light. What is the voltage there vs the voltage at the battery. Shouldn't be much difference. If there is, keep checking at points closer and closer to the power source, you'll find if there is a drop you have a bad connection. As stated above, also check all the grounds. If the original wire insulation is good, no reason to replace the wiring. People love to throw parts at their poor old A, most times it causes more problems than it solves. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

02-26-2022, 08:07 AM	#7
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,900	Re: Head light ?? My headlights are much brighter after my cataract surgery. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

02-27-2022, 08:39 PM	#9
fried okra Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida Posts: 292	Re: Head light ?? I didn't notice, are you running 6V or 12V?