Electrics

[hwgates]

ok,

the dremmel tool is the most awesomest tool for my collection. Rusty bolts are no longer my arch nemesis. Now it is the wiring.

I managed to put on my new tail lights, but am having issues with the wiring. I had to remove the plastic connectors becuase they were way to corroded. So i have to figure out the wiring scheme and connect all the wires individually.

My problem is that the left brake light won't work when I have the headlights on. Also, my blinkers don't blink unless the engine is on, and they slow down and sometimes stop when idling. Also, the reverse lights don't work.

And my gas guage and temp guage seem to be stuck. But that may be the humidity.

Does anyone know about all that wiring? Hopefully I can get a work party up in the next few weeks, and I will post about that. I am out of town again this weekend unfortunately.

But if anyone has any ideas that might help it would be great...

 

[Bodean]

It's a ground problem. Much like the issue that I showed you on the front blinkers.

Later,

 

[hwgates]

i thought that might be the case.

how do those tailights ground? There isn't a ground wire. is it through the screw or something?

 

[jofj40]

My 79 FJ40 has a gound wire for each bulb. Was a real pain to figure out when the old exhaust burned all the insulation off the harness. Strange how every other part on the truck is somehow connected to the taillights.
When you can get a work party going I will try to be available.

Later,

 

[Mickey Plunkett]

Check the pin arrangement on the new light

I had to replace one of the rear lights on my 79 and when I turned on the lights it fried my harness. Turned out the pins at the connector were completely different than they needed to be so my running light circuit went straight to ground (which melted both wires) and all the other lights came on in a haywire pattern.

The wiring diagram in the factory body manual will tell you how it's wired but the color codes didn't always match up on mine.

Check the connection at the transmission for the backup lights. The harness sends power to the switch on the trans and when you put it in reverse the connection is made to the lights. You can test for a bad switch by making a connection between the two wires to the trans. If that lights up the backup lights and putting it in reverse doesn't, the switch is the problem.

The blinker circuit doesn't work right unless there is sufficient current running through it. It sounds like the voltage in your battery is low if the blinker works OK when the alternator is putting out voltage but quits when you turn it off or drop to idle.

I agree with Jeff, you probably have a ground problem. Mine has a single ground wire to each rear light housing so if it's bad none of the lights in that housing work right.

I hate dealing with electrical problems!

 

[hwgates]

thanks for the input,
I will try and check it out today. otherwise see ya'll at the meeting tonight...