'71 Headlight Wiring Trouble

[Stiks]

Hey everyone, I have nearly completed a full restoration on my 71 FJ40. The wiring was a nightmare thanks to a "Complete" Painless Harness that was neither complete or painless. I made it through however thanks in no small part to this forum and specifically Coolerman, thank you very much. I have an issue with my lighting however. After testing everything works great, engine runs and all lights working, blinkers, flashers and running lights. The problem is that when I hit the dimmer switch for High Beam the tail lights go out. Did I maybe wire the head light switch incorrectly? I am hoping that someone has had a similar problem and can narrow it down for me before I have to start going through the whole thing to track it down. Thanks again for everything guys.

 

[bj40green]

I've no experience with a '71 but here it goes:
You have a Painless, complete, universal harness.
You can switch your headlights from Low to High Beam.
There is also the "flash" function in that "universal" harness. This is High Beam without taillights.
Maybe you mixed up those two High Beam functions?

Rudi

 

[msahr]

Are you still using the floor-mounted dimmer switch or did you convert to a later-model column with the turn-signal / dimmer switch?

 

[Coolerman]

So what is the reasoning behind putting your lights on bright and turning off your tail lights to pass? Never knew that function was in the Painless harness.

 

[bj40green]

The problem is that when I hit the dimmer switch for High Beam the tail lights go out.

So what is the reasoning behind putting your lights on bright and turning off your tail lights to pass? Never knew that function was in the Painless harness.

??????

Rudi

 

[Coolerman]

There is also the "flash" function in that "universal" harness. This is High Beam without taillights.
Maybe you mixed up those two High Beam functions?

Rudi

I was referring to this statement about a flash function in the Painless harness?

 

[Stiks]

I do have the floor dimmer switch. I am with Coolerman on that, I didn't know that there was a strange function that turns off half your lights, it sounds pretty dangerous to me.

 

[bj40green]

Okay, I think I got it wrong. Forget what is said/wrote.

Rudi

 

[Coolerman]

OK so just to clear up the terminology: To me tail lights/park lights and running lights are all the same thing. So when you are say the tail lights are going off when you hit the dimmer are the FRONT running lights also going out? If so that points to all the running lights being powered from the low beam circuit so switching to high beams causes them to go out.

The 71 light switch has two switches built in, one for the running lights (first position) and one for the headlights (second position). All the running lights should be hooked to the first position and the dimmer switch B terminal gets fed from the second position.

 

[Stiks]

Yes, sorry, all running lights go out. So I probably have the switch itself wired wrong? Thanks.

 

[Coolerman]

Yep that is what it appears to be. Hold a sec while I dig up my 71 headlight drawing. I will post it here so you will know how to connect it.

View attachment 943643

 

[Stiks]

Thanks Coolerman, as usual you have saved me hours of mindless wire tracking. -James

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

Yep that is what it appears to be. Hold a sec while I dig up my 71 headlight drawing. I will post it here so you will know how to connect it.

View attachment 943643

@Coolerman , do you have similar drawing for 1969 headlight switch? Also, having trouble figuring out exact spot where floor dimmer is supposed to mount? pic?

 

[Coolerman]

The 69 headlight switch is the exact same thing as the 71, so that drawing works for your truck as well. The dimmer switch is mounted on the drivers side floor.

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

The 69 headlight switch is the exact same thing as the 71, so that drawing works for your truck as well. The dimmer switch is mounted on the drivers side floor. View attachment 1225493

Thanks for responding. I'm such a noob at this that I actually had the original switch already installed but didn't realize it (was looking for the whole switch assembly inside the cab)! Thanks again for pic (and for patience with noobs)

 

[Coolerman]

We were all noobs at one time!
Check out my web site for a lot of information on the early FJ40. Your 69 will only have a few differences from my 2/1971.

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

We were all noobs at one time!
Check out my web site for a lot of information on the early FJ40. Your 69 will only have a few differences from my 2/1971.

Sadly, I'm a bit stumped on the steering column (which appears to be 1974?) and the hazard light (which is unknown, but not 1969 I think). I downloaded pics from orig manual and schematics from your site a couple weeks back (thanks for that!), but the coloring of the wires is unlike any I've seen from 1969 or the Haynes manual (that shows most years' wiring diagrams).

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

Got the new 1969 turn signal switch installed, turn signals all work, running/parking lights work, but can't get the brake lights working! Have rewired the brake lights with fresh ground wires. Did 1969 FJ40s use 3-way combo lights (brake, running, turn)?

 

[Coolerman]

Yes the 1969 FJ40 used the one bulb three function lights. When you hooked up the turn signal switch did you also connect the GW wire from the BRAKE switch to the turn signal switch?

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

Yes the 1969 FJ40 used the one bulb three function lights. When you hooked up the turn signal switch did you also connect the GW wire from the BRAKE switch to the turn signal switch?

Yes. GW connected to one end of the harness at turn signal switch. Other end connected to brake switch; fuse/power to brake switch is also connected.