Technical tail lights wont go off headlights won't come on

so I innocently set out today to clean up some underdash wiring on my 10 day old 41 ford coupe, In the process I managed to short the wire out to my electric fuel pump. With that I just ran a new line to a key on hot. Then I noticed my tail lights on thinking I pulled the switch on, I went to shut it off to no avail headlights were out off tail lights were on. i'm thinking the switch which looks original to the car. My question is this a chevy drivetrain 12v system should I be using that switch any way? also the lights worked fine a few days ago until I touched it

 

are you sure it's not the brake lights that are on?

The original switch should be fine, they get more load on a 6v system than on a 12v system, after all (same power takes twice as much current at 6v vs 12v)

 

First, was the wiring done correctly when you got it, or was it a pieced together mess? Next, why did you need to 'cleanup' the wiring, and what were you doing to get this done? Finally, did the fuel pump atleast work when you were done?

 

If everything was functioning before you did your wiring , I doubt it's a switch. did you have a wire burn out with your fuel pump? May have shorted to tail light wire. Is it the original wire harness? You may start by removing fuses until tail light goes out. That will tell you what circuit is supplying the power.

 

Headlights won't come on = Blown fuse to headlights? or burned out wire feeding headlights from switch?
Taillights won't go off = tail light wire shorted across hot all the time wire or when redoing the wires you connected the hot lead to the switch to the tail light side .

 

wiring was pretty much pieced together when I got it. I was just under dash just trying to get thing looking somewhat neat only thing I did was pull the radio just get it out of the way. Fuel pump worked afterward I feel like dirt t has something because pump wires come up through the trunk and were connected to harness feeding into the trunk from inside the car which when I put the test light to has no current. could be brake lights but my headlights wouldn't switch on so not sure on that

 

Check the headlight dimmer switch on `41-`48 Fords. On acc. always use wire with inline fuse.

 

thanks will do I appreciate all the responses

 

Pleeeeze tell us a little more about the 41. What engine etc and some pics.
I had a 41 like yours back int he late 60'swith a 53 Merc in it. Also had the trunk pump. The stance was more of a gasser look then yours though.

 

just got it gm drivetrain auto done late 80s or so stock front with p/s disc brakes stops good, 10 bolt in back w leafs tube shocks headers dual exhaust not too loud cause its got small pipes, goes down the road pretty straight, no heat looks kinda grandpa right now probably gonna do a dropped axle maybe lose the bumpers we'll see here's some other pics

 

So to recap my adventure brake light switch*****on was missing or fell. I am opting for the latter. anyway got my wires organized a little bit neat and the headlights were related to a toggle switch for the hi beams on the dash.