lights???

[fordsforme]

hi new member and new bird owner also. i can't most of the lights to work .the low high beams work and the rear tail lights come on for park lights but no brake lights ,no signal, no interior lights either.only had the car for 3 days first tbird i have owned . its a 66 hard top with a 69 thunderjet 429 under the hood originaly a 390 car, has a slipping c6 .its got some issues but not a bit rusty, and its all there. anyone no where to start with the lights? thanks will post some pics as soon as i figure out how

[John-Burgess]

Check the ground wires on each of the lights. Also remove socketed bulbs and check for rust in sockets. If so clean and then use test light or good known bulb to test. Headlight switch may also be bad or internal contacts dirty. I assume you checked the fuses as well. Could also be a filament in dual filament bulb burned out. These are all common first things to check.

[fordsforme]

i have been messing with the lights with no luck yet.i noticed that the steering column is lose ,i can hold the steering wheel and shake it a little and the whole thing moves around any ideas?

[Harley Eaton]

I hope you know that the brake lights and turn signals are not connected to the headlights or headlight switch. So, you are facing two different problems. Lots of questions need answers. Do you have power to the brake light switch? Do you have power to the turn signal switch? Have you checked the plugs in the trunk at the wrapped turn signal package behind the rear seat? Do you have power back there? "the low high beams work'?? what does that mean? Do you have tools to check the electrical system? Like a volt-ohm meter?

[fordsforme]

the car is a 66 .when i pull the light switch to park position the only lights that are on are the rear tail lights,when i pull it all the way out to the head light position the head lights come on, the dimmer switch works from high to low beam,no front park lights,no turn signals,and when i press the brake pedal no brake lights,the only thing that works in the interior is the battery volt guage.i hope this is a little clearer .. now where would be the best place to start to getting the lights going again? yes i have a meter to check ohms ect with .just needing a starting point cause this car and tbirds are new to me but i have other fords they just don't have as much wiring ... thanks

[boaterbob]

First if you have electrical problems, You should invest in an wiring diagram. I think even the shop manual has that in the back of the book. Like Harely said are you getting juice tothe brake light switch, Parking lamps also? They sell kits to repair your steering columm, The bushings/bearings are shot. This would be a good time to check out your turn signal switch since the steering wheel has to come off. Loose steering columm may cause the car to jump out of park!! as far as the guages not working, The guages that do not work are controlled by the cvr which may be bad. Check all your fuses with your meter from prong to prong. Sometimes the fuses are good but contact to prong is bad.

[fordsforme]

ok thanks i will start on this as soon as the weather breaks there is about 12 to 13 inches of snow outside right now i will post any progress

[Harley Eaton]

I have emptied my "inbox" so that private messages can be accepted.
I trust you are aware that the battery meter instrument shows amperes, not volts.
There is an instrument voltage regulator that controls readings for the oil pressure, the fuel quantity and the temperature. It is mounted on the back of the speedometer.

[fordsforme]

see im glad we have crossed paths cause i am not aware of these things until you mentioned them.but im learning i will start troubleshooting as soon as the snow melts . thanks harley