The Ford Barn

oak29 · 11-04-2021, 05:46 PM

We're working on my friend's 29 Model A. We replaced the wiring with a stock loom, new steering switch and new headlamps last year and everything has worked fine until now! We put in additional fusing so that we didn't just rely on on one main fuse.

The problem is when you switch on the headlights, and go from dim to bright, it blows the fuse. It happens about 50% of the time when you do this. We've taken the switch assembly apart at the bottom of the steering column and there are no obvious shorts to earth.

Any ideas on what the problem may be? And any solutions? Our next step is to bypass the switch and wire in a separate switch for the side and headlights

Ruth · 11-04-2021, 05:50 PM

Have you checked the wires inside the headlight buckets? Those wire connectors have a history of being troublesome.

40-A Twins · 11-04-2021, 10:04 PM

Mine shorted at the plastic plug inside the headlight connector so I deleted it and the short wire pigtail that terminates inside it. There is already a disconnect inside the radiator shell, so this one is redundant anyway. This plug would work better if it had through holes instead of slots to keep the contacts from touching the housing and shorting.

oak29 · 11-05-2021, 01:09 PM

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thanks for feedback. when rewiring the car last year, we did away with the headlamp connectors as they were shorting out (as highlighted in the replies above). It's then worked fine for a year or so.

The problem we have now is shorting/ blowing the fuse when going from dim to bright. We've checked the switch, cleaned it; there's no obvious shorts. The lights all work when the fuse hasn't blown, so there's no short at the bulbs themselves. The problem must be in the switch assembly. It's a repro one :-((

11-04-2021, 05:46 PM	#1
oak29 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: UK Posts: 10	shorting column switch We're working on my friend's 29 Model A. We replaced the wiring with a stock loom, new steering switch and new headlamps last year and everything has worked fine until now! We put in additional fusing so that we didn't just rely on on one main fuse. The problem is when you switch on the headlights, and go from dim to bright, it blows the fuse. It happens about 50% of the time when you do this. We've taken the switch assembly apart at the bottom of the steering column and there are no obvious shorts to earth. Any ideas on what the problem may be? And any solutions? Our next step is to bypass the switch and wire in a separate switch for the side and headlights

11-04-2021, 05:50 PM	#2
Ruth Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Glide, Oregon Posts: 1,339	Re: shorting column switch Have you checked the wires inside the headlight buckets? Those wire connectors have a history of being troublesome. __________________ Ruth "Sometimes you really DO need to read the whole thread"

11-05-2021, 01:09 PM	#4
oak29 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: UK Posts: 10	Re: shorting column switch Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) thanks for feedback. when rewiring the car last year, we did away with the headlamp connectors as they were shorting out (as highlighted in the replies above). It's then worked fine for a year or so. The problem we have now is shorting/ blowing the fuse when going from dim to bright. We've checked the switch, cleaned it; there's no obvious shorts. The lights all work when the fuse hasn't blown, so there's no short at the bulbs themselves. The problem must be in the switch assembly. It's a repro one :-((