Truck looses charge when headlights are turned on.

[rabbithunter2005]

U know that makes sense and u know something else I not certain right now but for some reason im trying to remember if there is a ground strap on the engine going to the body I don't remember seeing one but honestly its not something im always looking at ill have to check that tomorrow and start with what u just said. It sounds logical to me. Well hopefully tomorrow we will see how cold it is and whether or not I feel like messing with it. I will report back and let ya know what I come up with.

[rabbithunter2005]

Well good news today I started by checking the ground strap from the engine to the cab. Well there wasnt one so I pulled one off a 351 Cleveland I had laying around so easy fix there and that took care of the temp gage it now functions properly. Check one off the list. Then I moved back to the tail lights. Drivers side was an issue with the power wire for the taillights. I ran a wire and tapped it into the side marker light and now that light functions properly that includes turn signal and brake light all work properly on the drivers side. So I go to the passenger side same thing im lacking power with the tail lights on i tap into the side marker light and it gets a bit better but still acting funny with the light shutting off when I hit brake lights. The terminals inside the socket are real corroded so I scuff them up as best as I can and still same result so im testing wires and I have correct voltage up to the socket. So I start wondering about the ground on this side so I take an extra bit of wire I have laying around and I run it from the negative battery terminal and jam it down between the light bulb and the socket and it worked properly. So the passenger side I need a socket so problem identified and soon to be solved. I just wanna thank everyone for all of there help and advise. For the time being im taking a break from the dentsides and working on my bumps Lol. Hope everyone has a great holiday season.

[basketcase0302]

"rabbithunter2005"]U know that makes sense and u know something else I not certain right now but for some reason im trying to remember if there is a ground strap on the engine going to the body I don't remember seeing one but honestly its not something im always looking at ill have to check that tomorrow and start with what u just said. It sounds logical to me. Well hopefully tomorrow we will see how cold it is and whether or not I feel like messing with it. I will report back and let ya know what I come up with.

Easily identifiable, it runs from the intake manifold to the firewall up by the throttle linkage there.