Running Lights
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Running Lights
Hi everyone! I have a problem with my running lights on my taillights. It lights up when I hit the break, but just not when the lights are on. I am changed the light and that didn't help. I have looked at all of the fuses and they all appear fine, I do not have a fuse tester so I just "eye" checked it. I can't figure out what the problem could be. I have been pulled over a few times for it now, so if anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated!
Oh I almost forgot, as my name says, I have a 97 F150 XL edition with the 4.6l engine.
Oh I almost forgot, as my name says, I have a 97 F150 XL edition with the 4.6l engine.
Last edited by 97F150man; Apr 9, 2009 at 04:58 PM.
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Without the lights on ( parking or head position on the main headlamp switch ) the parking lamps come on when you press the brakes ?
I take it the brake lamps don't come on, or are you seeing the parking lamps on via the cluster or the front lamps ?
When you turn on a turn signal, to they also glow ?
I ask this line of questions, thinking there is a missing ground at the back of the truck, and the brake lamps are using the parking lamp circuit as the path to ground. Just a SWAG, if I understand the description.
There is a common ground for the Parking lamps & the stop / turn lamps at a Splice ( L=S104 & R=S401 ) and the ground point G103 & G104.
Without a Volt / Ohm meter, it is going to be hard to check.
Do the visual on the grounds at the back, by following the black wire to the point in the frame. Check for rust and a broken wire.
If you want, you make a t tap, and attach it to the 4 pin trailer tow adapter ( if that is in working order ), to see if that cures it.
Might want to think about getting a meter, even a cheap on from radio shack or target is better then nothing.
I take it the brake lamps don't come on, or are you seeing the parking lamps on via the cluster or the front lamps ?
When you turn on a turn signal, to they also glow ?
I ask this line of questions, thinking there is a missing ground at the back of the truck, and the brake lamps are using the parking lamp circuit as the path to ground. Just a SWAG, if I understand the description.
There is a common ground for the Parking lamps & the stop / turn lamps at a Splice ( L=S104 & R=S401 ) and the ground point G103 & G104.
Without a Volt / Ohm meter, it is going to be hard to check.
Do the visual on the grounds at the back, by following the black wire to the point in the frame. Check for rust and a broken wire.
If you want, you make a t tap, and attach it to the 4 pin trailer tow adapter ( if that is in working order ), to see if that cures it.
Might want to think about getting a meter, even a cheap on from radio shack or target is better then nothing.
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Thanks or the response, I will try to elaborate. The parking lights do come on when I hit the breaks. The turn singles also work. Plus the reverse lights work. The only thing that doesn't work is when I turn the lights, they don't light up in the back, the ones that are always supposed to be on when driving at night.
I have looked in the owners manual and I think I know what fuses it could be but they all look like they are ok, there is no cracks in them or anything. I am tempted to change all of them out, and the relays switches even if they look good.
Do any of you happen to know for sure what fuses, and what relays would have to do with the running lights? I will admit the owners manual is a little conusing.
Also I have noticed that the connectors to the bulbs are dirty with this gunky stuff, I am going to clean that all off tomorrow and test all the fuses again.
Also the interior dome light does not work, maybe that is connected to the running lights not working? Any advice would be appreciated.
If I don't figure it out tomorrow, I may be asking how to do that T tap thing, but I am not even sure it the trailor tow adapter works because I just bought the truck a month ago, my buddy has a trailor so I will test that tomorrow as well.
I have looked in the owners manual and I think I know what fuses it could be but they all look like they are ok, there is no cracks in them or anything. I am tempted to change all of them out, and the relays switches even if they look good.
Do any of you happen to know for sure what fuses, and what relays would have to do with the running lights? I will admit the owners manual is a little conusing.
Also I have noticed that the connectors to the bulbs are dirty with this gunky stuff, I am going to clean that all off tomorrow and test all the fuses again.
Also the interior dome light does not work, maybe that is connected to the running lights not working? Any advice would be appreciated.
If I don't figure it out tomorrow, I may be asking how to do that T tap thing, but I am not even sure it the trailor tow adapter works because I just bought the truck a month ago, my buddy has a trailor so I will test that tomorrow as well.
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
If I go it correct this time
1. With the parking lamps on, the rear tail lamp housing does not have parking lamps lit ? At the same time the front parking lamps work fine.
- Did you change the bulb ? ( also cleaning out the socket as you noted is a good idea with this )
- This is 1 circuit / 1 fuse.
Owners manual starting on page 139
Power distribution box
Fuse # 7 15A Parking and tail lamps ( this is on page 140 )
There are no relays without autolamps. Do you have Autolamps on the truck ?
The interior dome lamp, is this only the dome lamp, or does this include the glove box and engine compartment also ? Try rotating the instrument cluster dimmer switch all the way up / open the door. this should turn them all on.
Pressing the light ( map light ) is a different bulb element ( could be burnt out ). This is off a relay, the interior lamp relay and the battery saver relay, and a different circuit then the parking lamps.
If you want to track this down yourself, get a Volt Ohm Meter fro some place. Does not need to be a brand name, so it could cost 15.00, but you will need it, if you want to tackle this yourself.
1. With the parking lamps on, the rear tail lamp housing does not have parking lamps lit ? At the same time the front parking lamps work fine.
- Did you change the bulb ? ( also cleaning out the socket as you noted is a good idea with this )
- This is 1 circuit / 1 fuse.
Owners manual starting on page 139
Power distribution box
Fuse # 7 15A Parking and tail lamps ( this is on page 140 )
There are no relays without autolamps. Do you have Autolamps on the truck ?
The interior dome lamp, is this only the dome lamp, or does this include the glove box and engine compartment also ? Try rotating the instrument cluster dimmer switch all the way up / open the door. this should turn them all on.
Pressing the light ( map light ) is a different bulb element ( could be burnt out ). This is off a relay, the interior lamp relay and the battery saver relay, and a different circuit then the parking lamps.
If you want to track this down yourself, get a Volt Ohm Meter fro some place. Does not need to be a brand name, so it could cost 15.00, but you will need it, if you want to tackle this yourself.
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Well I do not have autolamps, but I did fix the dome light! A fuse was missing and that fixed it. However I was not so lucky with the tail light problem (And yes you got it right). I did not get around to cleaning the connectors because some buddies came by and we ended up playing a pick up game of basketball. I will clean it tomorrow after Easter dinner. There is this clear/whitish gunk on the connectors, my friend seems to think it is supposed to be there as some sort of sealent? But I have never heard or seen something like that before.