The Ford Barn

C1Nelson · 04-12-2023, 06:00 PM

1930 CCPU I have no lights or horn. The truck does start and run. Two days ago I installed an older brand new wire harness from Snyders that I have had for several years and the headlight wires and horn wires were about 4-6 inches short so I had to splice additional wires onto the harness. I also ran a separate ground wire to each headlight bucket.

I have checked the fuses and can not seem to find the problem other than I think it must be the light switch bucket at the end of the steering column?

Thanks guys

nkaminar · 04-12-2023, 06:40 PM

The horn and headlights are usually powered by a wire connected to the generator or alternator. Start there by checking the voltage at the wire. There are two wires on the horn, one will be hot all the time. Also check voltage there. After these checks, take the light switch apart and check to see if you are getting voltage to the switch.

rotorwrench · 04-13-2023, 09:15 AM

Most model As have three wires connected on the output side of the cut out. One is the charge wire for the battery that connects to the terminal box left side terminal. Of the other two that share a terminal, one is the horn power and connects directly to it. The other is the power wire for the light switch and connects directly to the switch terminal plate. This is a good link with photos and illustrations from MAFCA.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf

Ed in Maine · 04-13-2023, 09:28 AM

Make sure that the wire for the horn and lights is connected to the cutout. I had the same problem years ago. I had updated some of the wiring and this wire had fallen down and lodged itself inside the frame. I couldn't see it so I did not connect it to the cutout. Ed

Gary WA · 04-13-2023, 05:13 PM

Also make sure you have the nylon washer between wires and cutout?

wwirz · 04-13-2023, 06:53 PM

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Does the engine crank? If not, it is a bad ground from the battery.

C1Nelson · 04-14-2023, 09:39 AM

I will check to see if there is a nylon washer at the alternator. I had not thought of this possibility. Thanks

C1Nelson · 04-14-2023, 09:41 AM

Truck starts and runs great. I grounded the battery at the frame by the battery and an additional cable to the top of the transmission and scraped off all paint under the cable at each location. Thanks for the suggestion.

C1Nelson · 04-14-2023, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

Most model As have three wires connected on the output side of the cut out. One is the charge wire for the battery that connects to the terminal box left side terminal. Of the other two that share a terminal, one is the horn power and connects directly to it. The other is the power wire for the light switch and connects directly to the switch terminal plate. This is a good link with photos and illustrations from MAFCA.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf

I believe the left post on the terminal box is the driver side of the box. Is that correct ?

rotorwrench · 04-14-2023, 07:55 PM

It is on left hand drive vehicles. Ford made both left and right side steering systems for model As.

katy · 04-15-2023, 10:45 AM

Left side is looking at the car from the rear, doesn't matter whether its LHD or RHD.

SW in Oakdale · 09-12-2023, 09:37 PM

@rotorwrench: thank you for the link = learned a lot as I am dealing with a short somewhere in the light switch.

04-12-2023, 06:00 PM	#1
C1Nelson Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 61	No Lights or Horn 1930 CCPU I have no lights or horn. The truck does start and run. Two days ago I installed an older brand new wire harness from Snyders that I have had for several years and the headlight wires and horn wires were about 4-6 inches short so I had to splice additional wires onto the harness. I also ran a separate ground wire to each headlight bucket. I have checked the fuses and can not seem to find the problem other than I think it must be the light switch bucket at the end of the steering column? Thanks guys

04-12-2023, 06:40 PM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,898	Re: No Lights or Horn The horn and headlights are usually powered by a wire connected to the generator or alternator. Start there by checking the voltage at the wire. There are two wires on the horn, one will be hot all the time. Also check voltage there. After these checks, take the light switch apart and check to see if you are getting voltage to the switch. __________________ 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.

04-13-2023, 09:15 AM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: No Lights or Horn Most model As have three wires connected on the output side of the cut out. One is the charge wire for the battery that connects to the terminal box left side terminal. Of the other two that share a terminal, one is the horn power and connects directly to it. The other is the power wire for the light switch and connects directly to the switch terminal plate. This is a good link with photos and illustrations from MAFCA. https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf Last edited by rotorwrench; 04-13-2023 at 09:31 AM.

04-13-2023, 09:28 AM	#4
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	Re: No Lights or Horn Make sure that the wire for the horn and lights is connected to the cutout. I had the same problem years ago. I had updated some of the wiring and this wire had fallen down and lodged itself inside the frame. I couldn't see it so I did not connect it to the cutout. Ed

04-13-2023, 05:13 PM	#5
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,101	Re: No Lights or Horn Also make sure you have the nylon washer between wires and cutout? __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

04-13-2023, 06:53 PM	#6
wwirz Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Corning NY Posts: 244	Re: No Lights or Horn Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Does the engine crank? If not, it is a bad ground from the battery.

04-14-2023, 09:39 AM	#7
C1Nelson Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 61	Re: No Lights or Horn I will check to see if there is a nylon washer at the alternator. I had not thought of this possibility. Thanks

04-14-2023, 09:41 AM	#8
C1Nelson Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 61	Re: No Lights or Horn Truck starts and runs great. I grounded the battery at the frame by the battery and an additional cable to the top of the transmission and scraped off all paint under the cable at each location. Thanks for the suggestion.

04-14-2023, 07:55 PM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: No Lights or Horn It is on left hand drive vehicles. Ford made both left and right side steering systems for model As.

04-15-2023, 10:45 AM	#11
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: No Lights or Horn Left side is looking at the car from the rear, doesn't matter whether its LHD or RHD. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

09-12-2023, 09:37 PM	#12
SW in Oakdale Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2	Re: No Lights or Horn @rotorwrench: thank you for the link = learned a lot as I am dealing with a short somewhere in the light switch.