Light trucks, gotten so sad

    ............. always nice when a PLAN comes together and WORKS !!

Cannot get the wire to ring from the engine mounted temperature sensor to the former EIC plug. Broken wire that I've not located compromise yet. However, I found another nest in a vertical riser tube supporting the upper ROPS structure, and there is a wiring loom inside this tube. Damnest thing to get this far and then yet another setback. 

Fuel quantity gauge calibration this morning:

Don't forget that Almighty Going to Save the World, REQUIRED In Commercial Ops Backup Beeper.

Nearing the final stretch with this thing finally. Lot's of rodent damage everywhere has really taken time to sort and repair. Muddling through it however. Now have operational work lamps, glow plugs, interlocks, and engine shutdowns. Gone however is the 30 second delay from fault sense to engine shutdown as that was chip controlled. In layman's terms that means if low oil pressure, engine overtemp, or elevated hydraulic termperature is sensed, there is no delay in engine shutdown and it will be immediate.  

Edited by Codger - 24 Feb 2026 at 4:55am

New Holland dealer I help out wants two of these panels. One they have presold for a machine they sold new and has a blank cluster. I know the end user very well. I could sell direct but don't backstab anybody and they discovered I was doing this through the implement dealer therefore will be vendored through them. Another owner is to supply desired functions and I'll build to that if possible/reasonable. Both are willing to let me have their machines to test/evaluate proper operations of the engineering involved. 

I am old but not yet grown up......

On another happy note, I caught four 10,000 lumen 120VAC worklamps on sale in a rather slim case for mounting on my "Ma Bell" service truck. There is one 500W halogen worklamp at the rear and I'll remove this replacing with one of these new ones, and install one new lamp on each side of the ladder rack. I carry a 3kw portable generator with me most always and have a 4kw Onan air cooled set to mount permanent on the truck. Truck is already wired and plumbed as originally had a 6.5kw Onan set installed, but was gone prior to my purchase. Fuel lines and electrical are still present and terminated/protected proper. This will allow me to work after dark some.   

You are correct there Steve. The approach would have been much different with software controlling, rather than enabling functions and features. About the only automatic features I'm working with are the timing for the glow plug cycling. The engine starts easily without them now so going to start out with a 10 second interval with keyswitch on they will cycle, illuminate a yellow annunciator, and drop out the interval setting later and extinguish the lamp. The operator can then start the engine, or recycle the interval. The engine cannot be started with the glow plugs running as there is an interlock incorporated and will be retained. They are familiar with the "Wait to Start" banner so this fits right in with the original analogy. With exception of my timer install that is adjustable, the original interval varied with engine temperature; so could require adjustment to optimize.

Have received most needed parts and balance are scheduled for delivery today. Found a small sheet of 16ga sheet metal to fashion the faceplate from, and a stick of light 1" channel to mount the relays and components to. The channel will weld to the rear side of the faceplate and relay mounts will "daisy chain" along this channel. Already have drawn out a print to follow and hopefully this will just be a rerouting of existing wires and terminations. Need to pick up a new book of wire legends today come to think of it. I have several books but all older now. 

My old SD Ford still has shortcomings. 27 years on the road and mostly obsolete where is nothing generic on the machine to speak of.

Some Years back the Left seatbelt would not extend for use one day, the inertia mechanism had failed so called Ford, NLA as was outside the nine year line to retain parts availability, so tried salvage and ended up sending back fleabay orders or attempts at making a functional one last a while. All failed. The 1999-2002 model year extended cabs used a model specific floor mount, in late 03 changed to a model specific door mount then in 06 or 07 to a seat mount style that redesigned the seat where that would not bolt into the previous versions.
Planned obsolescence as well piss poor design either criteria or considerations where the use of a Generic Seat Belt system across ALL models should have been call of the day. Across the FORD Lines trucks are different than autos, models of trucks are unique for ‘Accessory’ items as this where parts lines are insane spreads of versions values, efficacy.

Had I Not been issued verbal then written warnings as to my seat belt being on yet totally dysfunctional as ceased retracting, had no inertia system function where was worthless for any accident condition I would not ever bothered with this.

Took a new GENERIC HDT Seat Belt assembly from PACCAR where they use a specific contractor company to provide a belt system they use in EVERY machine they sell. I fabricobbled the system into my SD Ford where has retract and inertia system, used OE mount position and even as color is wrong, do not care, have the State Required belt system I have not ever required as do not get stupid in my machines yet can avoid a ticket for lack of use or faulty mechanism. When I rebuilt my 05 KW I had noted the seat belt system latch was same as my Ford. Minor changes and slipped right into the truck.

Old truck has Air Bags, not certain the system will even still function, doubt the sensors are any further good. More required not ever needed, must protect the idiots junk that cost money and did not ever get used.

Edited by DMiller - 14 Feb 2026 at 10:15am

There are retrofit, or modification kits available to install a later type EIC into this series of machine. Still pretty heavy on cost however.

Are likely available but have yet to do a search. News bulletin noted a GM Light Truck BRAKING system fault TSB is being released. Again electronics games on a simple system, where Severe Cold Temps or other Low Battery conditions are affect Auto Braking Controls, failing Brake Boost operation and or immediate braking FAILURES, 2022-2026 model years. Why is there anything Electronic of Power Brake Boost? Or a Auto Braking system necessity?

Secondarily was an article in CDL Life, as to a DOT Investigative action looking into SIDE Under Run Guarding systems for ALL trailers where an auto could possibly Under Run in a Incident and severely injure the auto occupants. Similar to Rear Bumper changes to semi trailers and larger Bobtail trucks for Under Run accidents. The entire focus is away from Teaching Drivers Education to NOT get involved in accidents or to avoid them. Can see the Human Protective Balloon ideology returning from this.

Was able to get the work lamps to light up. Still need to work a bit on tail lamps. The fuse panel in the ROPS was buried in rodent nest and is corroded. I had voltage on the light switch but as soon as you tried to pull any current through the circuit, measured voltage went to zero. This is always a compromise to wiring on either the power, or grounding side. I'd wager there is a wire chewed through for the tail lamps in the rear but I've not investigated that area other than a 48" blow gun and paint stick to remove a former nest and 1/2 carcass of mouse remains.