1st post and 59 Apache electrical question

[punkavenger]

Hi Kids

New guy here >>> Howdy! I'll post pics of my 59 Apache soon but for starters... Can't get my license plate light to work! New bulb and wiring is sound, driving me crazy! Any insight into this problem?

Thanks!

[FFredo]

I'd check to make sure you have a good ground.
Test light before the socket to make sure you have power.
POST PICS.

[Rude Dude]

Originally Posted by punkavenger

Hi Kids

New guy here >>> Howdy! I'll post pics of my 59 Apache soon but for starters... Can't get my license plate light to work! New bulb and wiring is sound, driving me crazy! Any insight into this problem?

Thanks!

Should be spliced into the running light see if it doesnt have a brake in the wire

[Coupeguy2001]

If you mounted it to a painted surface, it would not get a good ground.
Also, if the back of the license plate holder is powdercoated, it won't be grounded either.

The only good way to get a ground is to buy what's called a bonding brush. This little round brush fits into your drill, and has a pilot. you put the pilot in the hole, and pull the trigger. Spin it untill all the paint, primer and rust is gone.
It leaves the hole with a nice round cleaned metal surface.
Now install the bolt and tighten it down. The natual distortion of installing the bolt will secure the ground. Be sure to do both the piece you are installing and the piece you are attaching it to. Then if you have some clear varnish or varathane, tape off the area and coat it so the air and moisture cannot get back into your nice new ground.
Use a volt-ohm meter to determine that the piece is grounded.
Turn on the meter and select ohms. Then put one lead on the frame of the vehicle, and the other lead to the socket housing shell the bulb sits in. Do not touch the center contact point the end of the bulb touches. you should see zero ohms. THe meter should go from infinity to 0. I like to use a meter with a needle instead of a digital meter because you can easily see the meter deflection instead of scrolling or flashing numbers.

To do a volts check, click the meter to volts, turn on the parking lights and now you touch the center contact and the shell that the bulb sits in. you should read battery voltage. Around 12---12.5 V. If the engine is running when you do it, it should be somewhere around 13.2V---14.4V

[meter swinger]

Welcome from the dirt-hole on the other side of the bumps. And toss up some pics were all truck addicts here.
Posted via Mobile Device

[punkavenger]

WoW, great advice from all. Thank you.

I basically took apart everything from the left tail light to license plate light. Checked all wires, tried everything, sanded everything, spent about 5 hours (!) going over it time and time again. You can't believe how frustrated I was beginning to become.

Defective bulb ... Chinese bastards

[punkavenger]

[Rude Dude]

Originally Posted by punkavenger

WoW, great advice from all. Thank you.

I basically took apart everything from the left tail light to license plate light. Checked all wires, tried everything, sanded everything, spent about 5 hours (!) going over it time and time again. You can't believe how frustrated I was beginning to become.

Defective bulb ... Chinese bastards

Just go with an LED next time

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...specs%2F67.htm

[mixermike]

good lookin truck

[Coupeguy2001]

Wow, nice truck. That thing needs a mirror on the right side. i would hate for you to cut off some 740IL as they were trying to pass you on the right.

[punkavenger]

Those are cool, thanks! Do they have the 89 bulb?