1980 Tail lights inoperative
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7
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From: Space Coast FL
1980 Tail lights inoperative
My brake lights, turn signals and flashers don't work. Head lights, courtesy lights, backup lights and parking lights do work. All fuses and bulbs are good. By the wiring diagram, it looks like the common denominator is the turn signal switch. It has been kind of stiff, but doesn't seem broken. Any ideas?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
All of the grounding for the rear lights are connected by an uninsulated crimp to one small wire that is connected to the chassis. The exposed wiring at the crimp had all corroded so badly on my car that my bulbs barely lit up. I cut out the common connection and replaced it and added heat shrink tubing to insulate it from weather. That was the source of my problems.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
I recall my lights acting VERY strangely. I had really dim lights as long as one filament was lit. The second was non-existent. I could have tail lights, turn signal or brake lights but never more than one at a time.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Probably............Your right about the turn signal switch being the "common".Start with your brake lights.I dont have my diagram but find the wire coming from brake light switch going to the harmonica conn.(flat conn. attached to bottom side of column going to turn switch)Make sure its hot on both sides of connector.A green and a yellow go back to the brake lights after going up and thru the turn switch--if they are not hot while pushing on the brake then your interupt is in the turn switch.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Space Coast FL
Problem solved
Turns out my fuse wasn't fine. I called it good because I had pulled it out and looked at it. Yesterday, I put a voltmeter on every fuse in the box and got nothing at either side of the stop light fuse. So, I pulled it, wire brushed it and reinserted it. That was it. Everything works. Thanks for your help, guys.
