Topic: ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE!!!!!!

[68-coupe-289]

my 68 mustang with a 289 is having some problems with the headlights,and blinkers. my problem is that they turn on but the blinkers dont work, but its only the blinker that doesnt work i changed the fuse it didnt work, so i started to look deeper, on the head light switch the main power is shorting out, and the swich its self gets really hot. do i need new wiring or do i just need a new head light switch?

[mustang245]

Before you start replacing parts, do a through inspection. Start with the the wires and check them for damage, check to see if you are getting power at both ends of the wires. After you check the wires check the switch and go from there.

[Soaring]

Obviously you are getting power to the switch, or it wouldn't be getting hot.  Replace the headlight switch.  You may even have to replace the turn signal switch. 

[BlackShadow]

On these old cars first thing to do is check your grounds and I do mean grounds not ground. there are a number of grounds on a mustang. Not sure about a 68 but I assume about the same as 65. There is a ground on the radiator support and under the dash plus making sure the light it self has a good ground. A faulty ground connection can make electrical systems do all sorts of weird things, just bear in mind that extreme symptoms don't always indicate an extreme problem. Normally, on these cars, electrical problems result from either a failed component, like a signal flasher, a ground connection that has gotten all corroded or a wire that has corroded or broken. You simply start at one end of the system and go through until you find the problem.

[68-coupe-289]

i have checked my grounds and replaced some burnt up wires everything worked untill i started to drive. i think it got all shook up and i am starting to think it is the switch its self what do u think?
thank you for all your help

[BlackShadow]

i have checked my grounds and replaced some burnt up wires everything worked untill i started to drive. i think it got all shook up and i am starting to think it is the switch its self what do u think?
thank you for all your help

Tell me more about replacing burnt wires and everything working until you started to drive.  What made the wires burnt in the first place. Do you have a short some where to cause this?

[68-coupe-289]

OK check it out. i bought the car about 2 weeks ago, none of the front lights worked(the rear ones worked break lights, reverse lights, just not the rear blinkers), well i know a little about electrical so i dove in. i unwrapped all the wire and found some burnt up wires to the headlamps and the blinkers, i also found a bad ground. so i fix all that i have the blinkers working now, but no headlamps(?)!!! so i go in the dash behind the gauges, i start testing wires trying to find out what wires i am looking at. ok i found the head lights. i ad power they light up. so now i am confused if the wire is fine, what is fu*%ed up? so i result to a shake test!! I FOUND IT!!! its the main power to my head light switch, so i take that wire out of the harness and close the gaps on the connection(so it will be on there tighter). i got them working. now the blinkers stop working? i change the fuse they work again. well i drove down the street and when i got home they didnt work (the headlamps and blinkers but the marker lights work). now i feel hella heat on the headlight switch and when i move the main power wire around the lights go in and out(i am moving it right next to the harness for the headlight switch). 

[Soaring]

Like I said, change our the headlight switch.  It's arching over. 

[68-coupe-289]

right on dude i already ordered it i will let you know if it fixes it

thank you

[BlackShadow]

Cool sounds like you have it under control

[68-coupe-289]

guess what it was the headlamp switch thank you for your help. i guess i doubt myself when it comes to electrical. THANK YOU again

[Soaring]

I hate electrical problems myself, but in this case most of the time it is the switch.  In the future, you may want to consider switching out the wiring harness under the dash.  Yeah, I know it is a pain in the ass, but necessary on these old cars.   

[ouch1]

I have a funny feeling that your wiring harness may be of questionable condition after having those problems. You may have scorched other wires in the bundle which could lead to more problems later on down the road. and if you are going to restore it anyway then it might be a good idea to get a new wiring harness. I recommend checking out Painless Performance ( http://www.painlesswiring.com/ ) for the price of a new harness. I got one from them and it was a perfect fit, and they even added an extra part for my after market stereo.

[mustang245]

I agree with soaring and ouch1. it might a good idea to replace the harness because this could happen again if you have any broken or damaged wires. in which case you would be replacing switches until you find and fix the problem

[68-coupe-289]

i found and replaced the burnt up and broken wires. i did that 1st cause i automatically thought it was a wire. i do agree on getting the painless wiring harness, i just dont have enough money for that right now, but if i do get one, and i will, it will be for a fuel injected 5.0, this will be a resto mod eventually 

[Soaring]

Painless seems to be the choice, but check with the Ford dealership and price the harness with them before jumping off and getting the pricey Painless.  You may save a few pennies, and then again, you may not.  I replaced the rear harness last year, and found that the dealership had a better price than Painless. 

[ouch1]

Well after looking around a little at the shops I get my parts from i found a good harness kit for a pretty good price.

Here you go: 1967-68 Complete Wiring Kit $699

[Soaring]

There ya' go.  It pays to shop around.  Now, that harness may not be as easy to replace as the Painless version, but you're a high stepper.  Piece of cake.     Take lots of digital camera pics before you rip out the old one.  You'll be glad you did when you start putting in the new harnesses and can't figure what goes where. 

[ouch1]

Yeah if I had known about that kit before I bought the one from Painless I might have gone with it. But hindsight is 20/20. But Mustangsplus carries some kits from Painless so they are worth checking out. I also know that since they are a lil more than an hour away from me I can just will-call them and not have to pay for shipping.

[Soaring]

Not paying for shipping is a good deal, but you pay for it in the end anyway.