The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Newbie harness install questions

Guys,

Please bare with me as I ask some silly questions. I am new to all of this and want to learn instead of paying someone. So this is the back of my truck

[IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/...E-4EB1-9670-90DBF023D91B_zpsbbjpt35a.jpg[/IMG]

As you can probably see, the top 2 sets of lights are just reflectors. So I have tail lights. Questions:

1. Do these double between nighttime running lights and brake lights?
2. What do I do about turn signals?

I have these lights that I had thought about using for turn signals, but am not sure where I can find the replacement lenses as one is broken and the other is very dull

[IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/...7-4468-9807-701F01E2CEBE_zpsxfanvvff.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/...0-4375-A71B-5D8461EE4E71_zpsxewon68v.jpg[/IMG]

I took this screenshot from the wiring harness:

[IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/...0-4734-97b7-ac41ec8474b2_zpsdp7e3don.jpg[/IMG]

This brings me back to my question on the "Left Tail Park". If I use an 1157, is the low filament supposed to make it a turn signal or a brake light? I'm confused. Why is there no mention of brake lights aside from the 3rd brake light?

Next on my fuel sending unit, there are currently 2 wires going to it. On the above schematic I only have 1 available. Is one of these a ground? Which post do I attach the new wire to and what do I do with the post that will now not have anything attached?

I apologize again for what I am sure is beating a dead horse around here, I just want to enjoy the truck and learn from it, not get in and drive it and have someone else do the rest of the necessary work on it.

Thanks guys,
Jonny

If you have an "integrated" turn signal stat you will be just fine. What is an integrated turn signal stat? It will have 7 wires. integrated means the turn signals are integrated with the brake lights. A good Tech Tip is here:
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/turn_signal.htm
The lower set of wire lists is the one you want. The Brake lights are the turn signals and the big filament in the light bulb is the brake/signal light. The smaller filament is the tail light. An 1157 bulb has 2 contacts and that is how they work. The bigger filament is the bright one. The lights you have look like accessory lights and if there is a trailer parts place close you may be able to get lenses there. A note: New lenses are plastic. This is not a bad thing(they are cheap) glass lens will be more expensive to replace. Not as complicated as it sounds.
The fuel sender has a post for the wire to the gauge. The second wire is the ground. If you have a stock tank you can pull the sender out and verify which is to the sender with an ohm meter($5 at Harbor Freight) It should read 30 ohms when it is all the way to one side and 0 when it is all the way to the other. Just move the float up and down. Disconnect the battery and hook up by the instructions. Use a charger to test as you go. It won't melt wire as fast if there is an issue. Take care and take your time it will work.

DX3 - I was in your shoes last month, same issues and questions.

1. Yes. Just as Steve H said, brighter filament on the 2-filament bulb is your brake/turn signal. Not sure which wire from the tail light to use? Bring your battery around to the light (I removed mine during the harness install) then get a jumper wire and put it on each wire coming from the light. I then put a label on the wire that triggered the bright light.

2. Steve H answered this.

Also, as per your instructions, the brown wire is your running lights. This gets run to one tail light THEN you need to splice another wire to your other tail light and the license plate light.

I have to disagree with this one. Make some long leads for your multimeter and use it to test circuits. Check both ends for continuity. Then check one end to ground for open. If it is shorted to ground and you use a charger, battery or any other hot lead you have ruined the wire and will need to piggy back another one in. If you find the short with a meter, no harm is done. Find the short (possibly a wrong connection) and fix it.

Thank you gentlemen for your responses. I'm yet to find time to get back to the truck to start on this, but you have provided me with good reading material in the mean time. I appreciate your help.