Odd Electrical Issues. 91 Ranger 3.0 5spd

[retrorich77]

Only recently picked up this truck. Will post a video since it's easier but for now. The basics. All lights work correctly. But. When I turn on my headlights. I get a solid stuck on left turn signal indicator. High beam light on the dash stays solid too. Also. When turning on headlights. The voltage gauge drops straight to low side and the tach as well. I do currently have a slightly slipping alternator belt. Tightened it up. No dice. Also checked my connections at the battery

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[Spott]

Bad grounds can force power to run through unexpected paths, like headlights or turn signals.

I'd start by checking, cleaning, and tightening all the ground connections in the vehicle. Even if it's not the immediate cause of your problem, it can eventually cause others.

 

[RonD]

Yes, +1 ^^^

Check head light grounds, they are on the rad support, battery ground cable should have a smaller wire connected to Rad support, that is there for the headlights to get best ground.


Just as an FYI, and why we both think "bad ground".
A light bulb comes on when power "passes thru" it.
If you hook up 12volts to both contacts on a light bulb nothing happens, no voltage/power is flowing "thru" the bulb/filament, so it doesn't glow.

If you hook up 12v and Ground(0 volts) then voltage/power will flow "thru" the bulb and it glows.

Many of the bulbs in a vehicle share common grounds and power, if a bulb has a poor ground then that power can flow to a better ground, if it "passes thru" another light bulb to the better ground then that light bulb would glow, because power is "passing thru" it

 

[ginman]

I had a similar prob on a ford dually... after an hour or two of tracing/testing wires.. i noticed that the flasher/brake filament had simply burned loose, & dropped onto the parklight filament and was drawing power when i turned the lights on, illuminating the blinker arrow,& the left signal.

 

[retrorich77]

Thanks for all the replies. So far I've only gone through the battery cables and such. Will go more in depth tmrw. Tackling the one piece drive shaft tmrw. Previous Drive Shaft snapped like a pretzel randomly. in the mean time, here's a video displaying what I'm encountering.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dFmuZS_gwEY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[retrorich77]

Anyone? Thinking about going ahead, Replacing ALL the battery cables, adding a few extra grounds perhaps. Alternator looks old, so probably replace that. Battery is most definitely old but hasn't died yet. Finished the 1 Piece Driveshaft Swap this morning. Impressive Results.

 

[retrorich77]

Noticed today while driving if I hit a hard enough pothole all the cluster lighting comes on as it should and the gauges return to normal

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[RonD]

Noticed today while driving if I hit a hard enough pothole all the cluster lighting comes on as it should and the gauges return to normal

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You need to sell that truck to someone who lives in New York, it would be working fine 99% of the time.
They don't have "potholes" there, it is just called "the street"


So then yes, you have a loose wire somewhere, start jiggling wires while someone watches lights and gauges