Slick 60's

I have been meaning to ask, does the key have to be in the "ON" or "ACC" position for the brake lights to work? That's how it is on my 66, but I replaced the ignition when I first bought the truck with a NAPA switch. The switch works good so far, but maybe the wires need to be reversed on the NAPA switch?

Mine has to be switched on to work.

Yes,the ignition must be on for the brake lights to work as they were originally wired from the factory.
not sure what type of NAPA switch you have but i am guessing a replacement
key switch. been a while since i used one of those but i do not recall any wiring differences from the factory type.

Ice double check that since my all of my trucks have power to the switch on the master cylinder with the key off and my 56 is the same way as well and my 2 bigger trucks also have the brake contoller wired like that,,, slicks should not be any different than any other car/truck since all I have seen brake lights come on whether key is there are not even when going through DOT Inspections twice in Az/ had key off check all lights now some big trucks brake lights will only work when air pressure is still in the system , once air runs out so does the brake lights since that is how the switch works

My 65 brake lights are wired through the igniton switch . its all original as far as i know.

NAPA sold me the ignition switch and key tumbler that was supposed to fit a 66 ford truck. The shape of the NAPA key matches the stock Ford key if nothing else.

Thanks for the input guys.

Tom, all of mine have to have the key on for the brake lights to work.i have not modified any of the wiring other than in my towtruck extending the harness to the inside to use a pedal switch.

i don't understand why/how that would be the case, ice.

do you have any 63's and older? mine had a scorched brake wire that traced back to the headlight switch, that is constant hot. The way it SHOULD BE....

I can't imagine any reason they would have made it a switched circuit on the later trucks.... unless they got scared of their shitty pressure switches and wanted to keep them from lighting trucks on fire...

Didn`t you use to love sitting at the drive-in movies on a damp night and the drongo in front of you kept putting his big fat foot on the brake peddle! .


Alan,

haha that sucks.

Last night we were at Sonic, and some cow in the car parked opposite us had her F^@K!ng hibeams on the whole time she sat there. my roomie blinked his lights a few times, but didn't do anything. If I was in Aggie, I would have been strobing my hibeams and blasting the horn. As it was, I wanted nothing else than to go kick the lights out.... I'm glad I am a "good kid", of more restraint than that.

......so is on running or is there an on position, i got the acc.

mark

63lokinup wrote:......so is on running or is there an on position, i got the acc.

mark

??? What is this now? you done confuzzled me.

63lokinup wrote:......so is on running or is there an on position, i got the acc.

mark

The switch has four positions;
off
run or on
start
ACC

Wiring diagrm for 66 shows brake light switch ran through ignition switch. Mine only work with key on, same as turn signals. Might be to save from draining battery(leaving tutn signal on). Ford probally figured if you do not have the key on, your not moving and do not need brake lights.

all my trucks early or late work as Jonas said.

My brake lights work in "ON" and "ACC".

As far as I can tell the switch has to be on for them to be powered up did not know that until I bought my truck. My dad has had his since the early 80's and never thought much about it until I got mine and triied to figure out why my brake lights were not working.

did these trucks have a hazard light function? if so, it really wouldn't make sense for the lights to be on the ign switch...

Hazard lights were defenilty an option. I had a 64 with Hazard lights. The diagram I have for a 66 shows no info on Hazard lights.

There is probally a circuit throught the hazard light switch(other then the ignition switch).

Jonas wrote:Hazard lights were defenilty an option. I had a 64 with Hazard lights. The diagram I have for a 66 shows no info on Hazard lights.

There is probally a circuit throught the hazard light switch(other then the ignition switch).

power for the hazard lights comes off the center post of the ignition switch.has an orange wire and inline fuse.