No lights issue

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Slooptin

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2017
Posts
138
Reaction score
80
Location
Denver
First Name
Vance
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
k30
Engine Size
454
Finished putting my truck back together and it runs great, but I don’t have any lights (interior or exterior). Went through the whole troubleshooting process and found that my wires are good (continuity tests passed), but I’m still not getting power to the headlamp switch. I think I narrowed it down to a faulty “s” terminal on the starter since I can jump the two s terminal wires to the junction block on the firewall and I kinda get headlights (see pic below). Just wanting a sanity check that this is the issue. I also drew up a bare bones wiring diagram from what I’ve found
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4028.jpeg
    IMG_4028.jpeg
    116.5 KB · Views: 21
  • IMG_4027.jpeg
    IMG_4027.jpeg
    203 KB · Views: 20

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,446
Reaction score
8,681
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
You have the wires on the starter wrong. The fusible links and the battery cable go on the large post,only the solenoid exciter goes on the s terminal
 
Last edited:

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,446
Reaction score
8,681
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
For everyone's benefit and to save troubleshooting time,a fuse will not take out headlights on a factory wired Squarebody truck. They get power from an under hood fusible link at the starter and by the headlight switch itself which has an internal circuit breaker.Dash and taillights are fused.
 
Last edited:

Jgonick

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2017
Posts
297
Reaction score
376
Location
West Texas
First Name
Joel
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
One of the red wires (with fusible link) at the starter runs to the bulkhead. At the bulkhead (inside cab) it splits into two red wires- one runs to fuse box for tail lamps & ctsy etc. The other runs directly to headlight switch. If "NO" lights are working- I would be looking at the fusible link and making sure it is connected correctly at starter.
 

Attachments

  • 85starter.jpg
    85starter.jpg
    110.9 KB · Views: 10
  • 85bulk.jpg
    85bulk.jpg
    130.9 KB · Views: 10
Last edited:

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,446
Reaction score
8,681
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
One of the red wires (with fusible link) at the starter runs to the bulkhead. At the bulkhead (inside cab) it splits into two red wires- one runs to fuse box for tail lamps & ctsy etc. The other runs directly to headlight switch. If "NO" lights are working- I would be looking at the fusible link and making sure it is connected correctly at starter.
He's not hooked up at the starter correctly. He drew us a diaghram on post 1. Take a look, not bagging on you. But if you look at his diaghram and confirm what I said,maybe others and the O.P. will know the problem is found before we get 97 WAGs to confuse the issue.
 

Slooptin

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2017
Posts
138
Reaction score
80
Location
Denver
First Name
Vance
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
k30
Engine Size
454
So fusible links are good I’m assuming since continuity tests were good. I definitely had it wired wrong. Thanks Ricko1966!
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,446
Reaction score
8,681
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
So fusible links are good I’m assuming since continuity tests were good. I definitely had it wired wrong. Thanks Ricko1966!
Thanks fir the pic it made it easy. Unlike the posts that just have us guess at everything. My lights don't work,but they used to,what do you think it could be???
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,157
Posts
950,600
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top