The Ford Barn

Jembow · 04-20-2018, 08:25 AM

Among the winter jobs done were fixing the adjustment of the brake light switch and putting in LED headlamp bulbs.

Manoevring the car last night out of the shop to adjust the lights, I found the lights go out when I touch the brake. Any ideas? Got me baffled right now.

Marcus · 04-20-2018, 08:31 AM

Jembow: just a thought - completely reworked my carhauler last year and had the exact same issue. I discovered improper grounding: when touched the brake, the current went to ground. Take a look and make sure your ground is clean and tight. I had painted my trailer frame, and then attached the ground......not the proper action. Hope this helps.

cmbrucew · 04-20-2018, 01:42 PM

Some times two or three splices, taped tightly together can cause that. Most often it is a poor ground.
Bruce

drolston · 04-20-2018, 03:23 PM

If the headlights go out when the brake is pressed, you have a short in the brake light circuit, probably at the switch you just worked on.

Jembow · 04-21-2018, 10:35 AM

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It's the fuse block. One end of the fuse holder is making poor contact with the base. Needs to be taken off, cleaned and reriveted. Woes of a car that's been in storage since 1940

04-20-2018, 08:25 AM	#1
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Brake on, lights off. Among the winter jobs done were fixing the adjustment of the brake light switch and putting in LED headlamp bulbs. Manoevring the car last night out of the shop to adjust the lights, I found the lights go out when I touch the brake. Any ideas? Got me baffled right now.

04-20-2018, 08:31 AM	#2
Marcus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walnut Grove, Mississippi Posts: 605	Re: Brake on, lights off. Jembow: just a thought - completely reworked my carhauler last year and had the exact same issue. I discovered improper grounding: when touched the brake, the current went to ground. Take a look and make sure your ground is clean and tight. I had painted my trailer frame, and then attached the ground......not the proper action. Hope this helps. __________________ WARM REGARDS, MARCUS

04-20-2018, 01:42 PM	#3
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: Brake on, lights off. Some times two or three splices, taped tightly together can cause that. Most often it is a poor ground. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

04-20-2018, 03:23 PM	#4
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: Brake on, lights off. If the headlights go out when the brake is pressed, you have a short in the brake light circuit, probably at the switch you just worked on.

04-21-2018, 10:35 AM	#5
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: Brake on, lights off. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It's the fuse block. One end of the fuse holder is making poor contact with the base. Needs to be taken off, cleaned and reriveted. Woes of a car that's been in storage since 1940