ok so driving around the wifes 53 customline (still 6volt) and i notice at night when i pull the lever out for the head lights.... my gauge light glows red.... thought this was norm tell few days ago. I was pushing the lever back in to turn lights off and for a split second the gauges lit up bright like a norm light bulb was lighting them... then shut off? after seeing this im thinking that's how there so pose to be lit.... not one dim red bulb.... another random thing that is happening is when i brake to a stop i start hearing this clicking sound behind the gauges... well tonight it was doing it while i had the lights on... and ever time it clicked the gauge light (red) would cut off and back on.... what is going on???? im thinkkkiiinnngggg i have a wire grounded out or something do to when i pulled the parking brake out i saw some sparks for a second... sorry i dont know if the red light thing is norm or not due to just got the car running and driving for first time since owning it. thanx for any help!!!
if you have sparks Id be under the dash asap looking , the light coming on may be a faulty or lack of an earth for the gauges (leave the battery disconnected till you find out whats going on)
So you kept the Customline? profile says it is SOLD?? anyway one of the biggest problems with those 50's Fords is the cloth insulated wiring just falls apart with age and invites shorts to pop up helter skelter.With the lights on make sure your brake light are coming on when this is happening,probably the best thing to do is consider a 12 volt conversion, one of our fellow HAMBers' is Rebel Wire and several folks in the 1952-56 Ford group have used the 9+3 wiring kit that will cost you around $150 and is EZ to install,give them a call for advice the customer service is tops.Just to do a trace with what you have,unplug the sender at the master cylinder and then pull out the light switch and see if the red light comes on that may isolate the circuit,send me a pm if you need a wiring diagram.The clicking like Claymore says is probably the relay,been there done that and it was rotten wiring at the switch on a '55 F-100 I had.
this is the wifes 53, i had one as well but sold it thats why MY profile says sold. i just have my 30 packard for now. Any way YEA the wireing on this car is baddddddd and def plan on doing a new wire harness and 12 volt swap asap!!!! only reason it hasnt been done is that my wife wants to do every thing her self!!!!! and im not aloud to do anything to it lol!!!! but she is in San Diego and im in Colorado with the car for 3 more weeks tell i trailer it down there. ill try the unplug the plug at the master tomorrow... prob get under the dash with a test light to!!!! i dont think she will mind if i keep her car from burning down lol!! thanx for the info!
Start with wiring around the parking brake lever. Fix the sparks first! Then see if the headlights and tailights light up at all. Then check the brake light wiring, turn signal wiring (up to switch on column). Sounds like possibly the headlight wiring and brake/turn signals are shorting. My guess is that wiring under the dash is hanging there and is being frayed by the parking brake lever.
sparks, clicking and a red glow? i wouldn't keep the battery connected until you change the wiring... but then again if you keep an eye on it you can follow the smoke back to the problem.
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