well I have a 72 maverick with a 4.1 250 in it all fatory. I recently relocated the battery to the trunk, everything went fine till I dont know when one of the ties holding the power wire up under the car must have broke off and the power wire was touching the exhaust. I go to take off one morning and the car doesnt start, plenty of power but motor wouldnt turn over, not enough power going to the starter. Well I found the problem of the wire being burnt and I just recently put the battery back to the front till I go buy another long power wire to put it back in the trunk. Well long story short after putting the battery to the front, grounded well and everything now im having this stupid electrical problem. Car starts fine, radio, everything. Now problem is when I turn on the headlights, when I step on the brakes, the reverse lights turn on with them really dim but they turn on. Then when I turn on the left signal with the headlights on the the reverse lights turn on with them, I put the right turn signal it works fine. Then my brake light bulbs are brand new but the left side with all the signal problem doesnt work when I hit the brakes. All this happens with the headlights on, if they are off everything works pefectly fine, the turn signals, brake lights, everything working normal. I check pretty much everything on the car, fuse box, traced all the wiring thoughout the car, nothing grounding out anywhere. Idk if it is a switch that is bad or what?????? NOTE: Starter is new, Alternator is new, Starter Solonoid is new, Voltage Regulator is new, Battery is new. ANY SUGGESTIONS???????????????
yes, looks to be a ground problem of some sort . likely in the lighting system , and possibly caused by overheating so look for any smaller wires (possibly ground wires..) in the lighting circuit. start looking and testing from where the battery was , and searching outward from there. and check voltage regulator..if wires melted , it could effect the current to the voltage regulator ..and of course the lights are one of the only things where you can notice somethings wrong (visual indicator..) but it does sound like you have a ground wire melted through..good luck.
Quick Test: Test to see if you have a good chassis ground on the Left Brake Light/Left Turn Light SOCKET... AND ALSO...follow the positive wire from the Left Backup Light socket back (Black/Pink color) , and see if it is melted or bonded to the positive wire for the Left Tail Light (Light Green/Orange color). Here is the loooong explaination for those that are interested: From the symptoms you describe, it sounds like this is what is happening: SYMPTOMS: - When the Headlights are on: Backup Lights come on INSTEAD OF the Brake Light and Turn Signal Light, when either the Brakes are pressed, or the left turn signal lever is selected. - When the Headlights are OFF, EVERYTHING WORKS/LOOKS "NORMAL". (actually, I'm guessing everything LOOKS normal with the headlights on, but I'm betting the left taillight bulb ALSO comes on when you press the brakes, but it's hard to notice). Possible Cause and Solution: 1. After looking at the wiring schematics, it looks like it would have taken 2 things to go wrong (two separate problems) to cause this type of condition. 2. First, It acts like the (ground wire/connection) to your Left Brake Light-Left Turn Signal Light is open (ie: melted off, cut, not there). Should be Black color. (This same ground connection is shared by the Left Tail Light...The Master Bulb has two filaments in series (Brake/Turn Signal Filaiment and Tail Light Filament), with a center tap being the ground connection for both lights). 3. Second, It acts like the positive wire for your Left Backup Light (Black/Pink color), has melted/bonded to the positive wire for your Left Tail Light (Light Green/Orange color). 4. Since this problem only happens with the Headlights on, the first clue for us is that the TailLights also come on with the Headlights, and have wires in the same area as the Backup Lights. 5. Here is how these two separate possible wire problems could cause your symptoms: When either the Brakes or the left turn signal is actuated (with headlights off), If the center-tapped ground connection is gone, the light could still come on by seeking a ground through another path: The 2nd Filament in series, and the 2nd Filament (Left Tail Light) would have to be partially melted, or bonded to the positive wire for the Left Backup Light. It would find a new ground path through the seriesed Left Tail Light Filament in series with the Left Backup Light's filament, which has a good ground. In essense, the Positive side of the Left Tail Light filament, is held low through the Left Backup Light Filament's ground. (both the left tail light filamint and the left brake light filamint, I believe are coming on in your car, when the brakes are pressed with the headlights off, which is actually an improper function). - In the scenario of pushing on the brakes, the Left Brake Light/Left Turn Light would stop working, the moment the Headlight switch was turned on, because the Brake Light filament would no longer have voltage across it. It would have positve 12 volts at both ends of it, which cancels each other out, and therefore you have zero volts across the Brake Light/Tail Light Filaments, when the Headlights are on. You would also have that same positive "Left Tail Light Voltage" lighting up the Left Backup Light instead, because the center tap ground for the Left taillight is bad, while the ground for the Left Backup Light is still good. So with the Backup Light wire bonded to the TailLight wire, the Backup Light would be the one to light up because it actually has a ground intact. Very tricky, but interesting problem. I hope this helps you to fix it. Good Luck. - Roger
that helped! thanks! ill recheck everything again I guess, going to have to trace all the wire from the back of the car to the front
well I havent really had time to check the car, and it is my daily driver, but all of a sudden it stop happening and everything works fine now but ill still check everything as soon as I get a chance, thanks for your help everyone
