Wiring problem

[Oilslickwillie]

The person I got my 1955 Ford from has made a lot of wiring problems. I have fixed most of them but still having one problem.
The car did not have a NSS so I ordered and installed it on my C4 ******. I located a yellow wire that went from the ignition switch to the started solenoid so I spliced the NSS in between and now the car only starts in Park or Neutral like it is suppose to. So far so good.
Thought I had everything fixed, now I find out my headlights and park lights only come on if car is in Park or Neutral, just like the NSS on the ******. Didn't think that would happen.
I guess I did not know that the lightswitch was somehow connected to the starter selenoid and especially the ignition switch.
What would be an easy fix for this problem. I thought maybe I could remove wire from headlight switch that goes to starter relay which would eliminate the ignition switch altogether.
Then just wire the headlight switch to a separate relay not connected to the ignition switch. Would this work or is there a easier fix. Or, should I put it back the way it was and try rewiring the NSS a different way?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dmsfrr]

Was the car converted to 12volt?
Things a PO did could be even weirder than what you've already found.

IIRC the power wire to the headlight switch should come directly from the same bolt terminal on the starter solenoid as the battery cable, not thru the Ign switch or anything else.
The NSS goes into the wire from the 'start' position on the Ign switch to the starter solenoid.

You might be able to find a '55 Ford wiring diagram on the internet for free. If you have to buy one specific to your model for a few bucks it's not a bad idea.

https://www.google.com/search?q=1955+Ford+wiring+diagram&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Here's one for a 6volt '55 Ford truck, very similar. Just ignore the Amp meter it has.
Scroll down 1 post at this link.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/942768-1955-dash-wiring-diagram.html

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[Oilslickwillie]

Car converted to 12v.
Lights were working before I wired in the NSS. Think I can leave this part alone.
But, I think I need to rewire the headlight switch separately. Could I run a new power wire from the battery to the headlight switch, then run wire from headlight switch to the headlights. I may want to run it through its own relay and also a 20 amp fuse in a fuselink. Will this work...
Don't know why the lights are hooked up to the ign. switch. Lights may have a wire linked somehow from the start position on Ign. switch to starter solenoid.

 

[dmsfrr]

Because the previous owner was 'confused'. (to be polite)

The closer you can keep it to how it was supposed to be, the easier it will be to work on a couple years from now, when you aren't all that sure where all the extra wires & parts came from.
...and for the next owner too, so he won't be calling you the same names you're thinking about the guy you got the car from.

The stock headlight switch has it's own fuse for the parking & dash lights mounted right on the switch, and an internal thermal circuit breaker for the headlights.
Yes, the power to the headlights comes thru a large wire straight from the the battery cable terminal on the starter solenoid that's mounted to the firewall. There will likely be a second large wire with it that also goes under the dash to power everything else. It will have these square silver circuit breakers in that wire.

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[Oilslickwillie]

Since the NSS is working as it should, and now unfortunately the lights (headlights, park lights) are working the exact same as the NSS, then he must have the lights wired into the same wire that goes to the starter selenoid. I'm thinking this because if light wire and the yellow starter ignition wire for NSS are both going to the same battery cable stud on selenoid they would not be working the same. He must have that light wire tied into the yellow starter ignition wire which is making it act the same as NSS. Am I thinking this correctly.

Guess next step is to see if a wire coming off the light switch is going to the wire for the NSS. If so, I will have to change that.

My problem is I've cracked a couple ribs and can't do much now.

 

[bobss396]

Definitely look at the wiring on the HL switch. The NSS should go to the ignition switch.

 

[dmsfrr]

Since the NSS is working as it should, and now unfortunately the lights (headlights, park lights) are working the exact same as the NSS, then he must have the lights wired into the same wire that goes to the starter selenoid. I'm thinking this because if light wire and the yellow starter ignition wire for NSS are both going to the same battery cable stud on selenoid they would not be working the same. He must have that light wire tied into the yellow starter ignition wire which is making it act the same as NSS. Am I thinking this correctly.

Guess next step is to see if a wire coming off the light switch is going to the wire for the NSS. If so, I will have to change that.

My problem is I've cracked a couple ribs and can't do much now.

Taking the front seat out may not be the easiest thing right now but
if you do it in a couple weeks(?) it makes getting under the dash much easier.

Use the time til then to study a wiring diagram, and what's in the car, so you have a good plan for what needs to be done when you can get to it.

Car converted to 12v.

Another thing to look at...
Did they put a ballast resistor in the "I" wire from the solenoid that feeds the coil?
FYI - 12v cars use a 4 terminal starter solenoid, 6v cars have a 3 terminal one.
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[Oilslickwillie]

Thought about doing that and may end up that way if I can't fix problem. With my health problem I'm thinking of dropping down the ignition switch and also drop down the light switch so it's easier to see what's going on and try to see how or where the light switchi is connected to ignition switch.

 

[Oilslickwillie]

Does have a ballast resistor wire going to coil. Also has a 4 terminal starter selenoid.

 

[dmsfrr]

That's better than their headlight switch wiring.

 

[Oilslickwillie]

Ok guys, I normally don't give up this easy but my ribs are killing me. I just pulled the headlight switch and ignition switch. Don't really see anything there that helped me. On the light switch, there were 2 sets of yellow wires. One set has a single wire and the other has 2 wires combined into one. Tried removing one set a time. When I did this, no ignition and no lights for either set. Seems both sets of wires are needed.
Also checked the starter solenoid, it has a black heavy wire going to the starter, a yellow wire going to the battery terminal from ignition switch, and a single wire going to the "S" terminal.
All my lights worked fine until I spliced the NSS into the yellow wire going to the battery terminal on the selenoid. Like I said earlier, now the NSS works as it should, "but" now the lights only work in Park or Neutral. (just like the NSS). That's not right.
Apparently I did not wire the NSS correctly into the correct wire since it now affects the lights.
Thought about removing my NSS splice and reconnecting at the slice so the lights will work again. Back to square one.
Doing this eliminates my NSS though. Have I spliced the NSS into the wrong wire. I used the yellow wire off the ignition switch that goes to the battery side of terminal on selenoid. Did I pick the wrong wire or is there a different wire or an easier way to wire the NSS.

 

[dmsfrr]

Have I spliced the NSS into the wrong wire(?) I used the yellow wire off the ignition switch that goes to the battery side of terminal on selenoid. Did I pick the wrong wire or is there a different wire or an easier way to wire the NSS.

I think you put the NSS in the wrong wire. That sounds like the main power wire to the Ign switch.

There is a small wire from the 'start' position of the Ign switch that goes to the 'S' terminal on the starter solenoid. That is the wire / circuit the NSS goes into.

 

[Oilslickwillie]

Ok, I'll try that. I spliced the NSS into the wire that goes to the battery terminal on selenoid. I'll try splicing the NSS into the wire going to the "S" terminal on selenoid. Maybe tomorrow, my old Nam rib injury is acting up pretty bad and didn't think I could get back out from under the dash.
I'll let you know if that fixes the problem.

 

[Ford blue blood]

I think you put the NSS in the wrong wire. That sounds like the main power wire to the Ign switch.

There is a small wire from the 'start' position of the Ign switch that goes to the 'S' terminal on the starter solenoid. That is the wire / circuit the NSS goes into.

He did. The yellow is normally supply for things that need power. The small wire on the "S" terminal is the one that needs to be put in the NSS circuit.

 

[Oilslickwillie]

Ford Blue Blood and dmsfrr you are both correct. I undid my wiring on the NSS switch and wired as you suggested, now lights and everything is working as it should.
Now on to the next job, install a brake booster and upper control arms. Got to let the ribs heal a little first.
Thanks for all who helped me.