C2 Headlight and Tailight problems
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C2 Headlight and Tailight problems
I'm all but done restoring a 64 convertible and I ran into this issue. Both sets of lamps in the rear work when tested with the turn signal, however only the driver side tail lights light up when the break is pressed. The headlights function normally until the brights are switched on, in which case the drivers side work and the two passenger side bulbs turn off.
For a little context I have a fairly good grasp on wiring but I am new to car work. The other far better mechanics are all out of town and I was tasked with trying to fix this problem while they are out. That being said any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
For a little context I have a fairly good grasp on wiring but I am new to car work. The other far better mechanics are all out of town and I was tasked with trying to fix this problem while they are out. That being said any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,190
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
Just to clear up a little terminology, brake lights and tail lights are separate filaments and work independently of each other. Turn signals and brake lights use the same wires, bulbs, filaments, and grounds
So when you pull out the light switch to either first or second position, the TAIL lights should light up. When you step on the brake, the brake lights should light up.The only shared feature of these is the ground, and if it's good for one, it's good for other.
If, as you say, the turn signals work in the rear, but the brake lights don't on one side, the problem is inside the turn signal switch. Test it with the key OFF. step on the brake. Do both side brake lights come on? If not, wiggle the turn signal switch lever and see if that brake light comes on or flickers. Whichever side you have the turn signal switch turned to SHOULD NOT light up, but the other side should. Post back what this test showed.
For the headlights, the symptom you describe should be in the connector at the front driver's side of the car near the wheel well. There is a connector where the green wire that feeds the voltage up from the dimmer switch splits and goes one wire to the driver's side lamps and another to the passenger side. If that connector is corroded or the wire broken, the driver's side will still work but you'll get no voltage to the passenger side. The dims will still work on both because it is on a different (tan) wire from the dimmer switch. You're losing connection to the green wire that goes to the passenger side. It could be at that split or anywhere across the front and up to the connector on the passenger side that splits the green wire between the two bulbs for brights on that side. The only other thing that will cause that symptom is if your dim filament is good in your passenger side dual filament bulb, but the bright filament in that bulb AND the filament in the inside bright bulb is also bad. That seems kind of unlikely, but not impossible.
So when you pull out the light switch to either first or second position, the TAIL lights should light up. When you step on the brake, the brake lights should light up.The only shared feature of these is the ground, and if it's good for one, it's good for other.
If, as you say, the turn signals work in the rear, but the brake lights don't on one side, the problem is inside the turn signal switch. Test it with the key OFF. step on the brake. Do both side brake lights come on? If not, wiggle the turn signal switch lever and see if that brake light comes on or flickers. Whichever side you have the turn signal switch turned to SHOULD NOT light up, but the other side should. Post back what this test showed.
For the headlights, the symptom you describe should be in the connector at the front driver's side of the car near the wheel well. There is a connector where the green wire that feeds the voltage up from the dimmer switch splits and goes one wire to the driver's side lamps and another to the passenger side. If that connector is corroded or the wire broken, the driver's side will still work but you'll get no voltage to the passenger side. The dims will still work on both because it is on a different (tan) wire from the dimmer switch. You're losing connection to the green wire that goes to the passenger side. It could be at that split or anywhere across the front and up to the connector on the passenger side that splits the green wire between the two bulbs for brights on that side. The only other thing that will cause that symptom is if your dim filament is good in your passenger side dual filament bulb, but the bright filament in that bulb AND the filament in the inside bright bulb is also bad. That seems kind of unlikely, but not impossible.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
When I got my 61 back from the paint shop the headlights did the same thing as described above, very disconcerting. I discovered the painters had reassembled the connections at the headlight harness improperly. Easy fix..
