Testing the Circuit Breaker

[41Fordor]

When I assembled my 41 sedan 12 years ago, i replaced all the wiring and the circuit breaker under the dash. I had taillights and brake lights go out and found some chaffing and burned wires where I routed the taillight harness incorrectly. It looks like the clutch pedal pinched the taillight harness against the frame.

I taped up and spliced them but still not getting power to the stop light switch or the taillight harness, so I'm replacing the underhood harnesses. If it was a bad enough short to smoke the insulation, shouldn't the breaker have tripped?

 

[marko39]

Check the wiring diagram to see if rear lights are on breaker. It may just protect the headlights.

 

[cadillac512]

The tail and brake lights do receive power through the circuit breaker. But...the current required to burn the wire may have been less than that needed to trip the breaker, or may have been too short duration each time the pedal pinched it to trip it.
Here's a link to Van Pelt's wiring diagram for a '41.


http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/...al-pics/Flathead_Electrical_wiring1941car.jpg


Terry

 

[slowforty]

Try Classic Car Wiring for your needs.They have a great Digram. I recommend the larger size.

 

[41Fordor]

Thanks, I got new harnesses from C&G, I guess it could have been worse. I'll be more careful this time with routing and tying it,