No taillights
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
From: Apollo Beach FL
No taillights
Hi all,
I am new to this. Inherited my 77 last xmas and have been having fun playing with it. I have searched the forum and found some great info and I thank you for that. I have a problem with my 77 taillights and have narrowed things down. Looking for someone to point me in the next step.
I have replaced bulbs and checked the grounds I can find. With the headlights off, turn signals work front and rear and brake lights work correctly. When I turn on the headlights. Turn signals work front and rear. But when the headlights are on - I have no brake lights or tail lights. I have cleaned the grounds, cleaned the bulb sockets and put in new bulbs. I do not see any chafing on any wires. Cleaning the ground definitely added some brightness in the brake and turn signals. I am only seeing 1 ground for the taillights connected to the frame on the drivers side. Is there another that I am missing?
The fuses are fine and not blown. Is there a relay for the taillights that I can check or an inline fuse?
Any help to point me in the right direction is appreciated.
I am new to this. Inherited my 77 last xmas and have been having fun playing with it. I have searched the forum and found some great info and I thank you for that. I have a problem with my 77 taillights and have narrowed things down. Looking for someone to point me in the next step.
I have replaced bulbs and checked the grounds I can find. With the headlights off, turn signals work front and rear and brake lights work correctly. When I turn on the headlights. Turn signals work front and rear. But when the headlights are on - I have no brake lights or tail lights. I have cleaned the grounds, cleaned the bulb sockets and put in new bulbs. I do not see any chafing on any wires. Cleaning the ground definitely added some brightness in the brake and turn signals. I am only seeing 1 ground for the taillights connected to the frame on the drivers side. Is there another that I am missing?
The fuses are fine and not blown. Is there a relay for the taillights that I can check or an inline fuse?
Any help to point me in the right direction is appreciated.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
From: Apollo Beach FL
One thing that might make a difference. The car is normally garaged. A few weeks back, I was working on the car and needed a part that took 2 weeks to get so it sat in the driveway for 2 weeks and we had some massive rain. It was closed up but I am guessing all our T-tops leak quite a bit, so I figured I would toss that out there.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Hi all,
I am new to this. Inherited my 77 last xmas and have been having fun playing with it. I have searched the forum and found some great info and I thank you for that. I have a problem with my 77 taillights and have narrowed things down. Looking for someone to point me in the next step.
I have replaced bulbs and checked the grounds I can find. With the headlights off, turn signals work front and rear and brake lights work correctly. When I turn on the headlights. Turn signals work front and rear. But when the headlights are on - I have no brake lights or tail lights. I have cleaned the grounds, cleaned the bulb sockets and put in new bulbs. I do not see any chafing on any wires. Cleaning the ground definitely added some brightness in the brake and turn signals. I am only seeing 1 ground for the taillights connected to the frame on the drivers side. Is there another that I am missing?
The fuses are fine and not blown. Is there a relay for the taillights that I can check or an inline fuse?
Any help to point me in the right direction is appreciated.
I am new to this. Inherited my 77 last xmas and have been having fun playing with it. I have searched the forum and found some great info and I thank you for that. I have a problem with my 77 taillights and have narrowed things down. Looking for someone to point me in the next step.
I have replaced bulbs and checked the grounds I can find. With the headlights off, turn signals work front and rear and brake lights work correctly. When I turn on the headlights. Turn signals work front and rear. But when the headlights are on - I have no brake lights or tail lights. I have cleaned the grounds, cleaned the bulb sockets and put in new bulbs. I do not see any chafing on any wires. Cleaning the ground definitely added some brightness in the brake and turn signals. I am only seeing 1 ground for the taillights connected to the frame on the drivers side. Is there another that I am missing?
The fuses are fine and not blown. Is there a relay for the taillights that I can check or an inline fuse?
Any help to point me in the right direction is appreciated.
Replace the headlight switch and brake pedal switch. Should fix your problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Are you certain you have the proper bulbs installed?
For the rear park/stop/turn lights they should be clear, dual filament trade #1157.
You should see two contacts on the bottom of the bulb.
For the rear park/stop/turn lights they should be clear, dual filament trade #1157.
You should see two contacts on the bottom of the bulb.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
When I turn on the headlights. Turn signals work front and rear. But when the headlights are on - I have no brake lights or tail lights. I have cleaned the grounds, cleaned the bulb sockets and put in new bulbs. I do not see any chafing on any wires. Cleaning the ground definitely added some brightness in the brake and turn signals. I am only seeing 1 ground for the taillights connected to the frame on the drivers side. Is there another that I am missing?
NO relay for the headlights or any factory inline fuse.
Before you go and start replacing parts....you will HATE it if you come to find out is is a bad ground. This is why I need to know if you have the running/driving lights working in the rear when the headlight switch is pulled. Actually...make sure ALL of the required lights are on when you pull the headlight switch. AND you can pull it to the FIRST detente...so the headlights do not come on. The headlights lighting up do not matter in this issue.
DUB
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
From: Apollo Beach FL
Thanks!
1. Bulbs are correct 1157 and the 1156. The Brakes are on the brightest filament.
2. When the headlights come on, the taillights do not work at all. The 2 side markers lights in the rear light, but no taillights.
3. I will check the voltage on the fuse holders later today. With the headlights off, I have around 11 volts to the brake lights and the turn signals. With the headlights on, I have 0 voltage to the brake lights and 11volts to the turn signals. There is also 0 volts on the reverse lights. I have not tested the voltage on the reverse lights with headlights off. I will do that later today.
1. Bulbs are correct 1157 and the 1156. The Brakes are on the brightest filament.
2. When the headlights come on, the taillights do not work at all. The 2 side markers lights in the rear light, but no taillights.
3. I will check the voltage on the fuse holders later today. With the headlights off, I have around 11 volts to the brake lights and the turn signals. With the headlights on, I have 0 voltage to the brake lights and 11volts to the turn signals. There is also 0 volts on the reverse lights. I have not tested the voltage on the reverse lights with headlights off. I will do that later today.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,183
Likes: 4,178
From: Kannapolis NC
That's a classic symptom of a bad ground. If it were mine, I'd run a ground wire from a known good ground (frame) to one of the tail light housing grounds and see if they didn't work properly now.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
THANK YOU for your reply..we are trying to help and need to know what is going on. 
OK...NOW...take out your 2 OUTER taillight bulbs (1157's) ..using a voltmeter. When you have the headlight switch ON...check and see if you get voltage at ONE of the two terminals INSIDE your light socket.
We KNOW by you telling us that your brake lights light up...so THAT wire is GOOD....but I am curious if the wire for you running lights is GOOD. The test above will let us know this.
DUB
We KNOW by you telling us that your brake lights light up...so THAT wire is GOOD....but I am curious if the wire for you running lights is GOOD. The test above will let us know this.
DUB
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
From: Apollo Beach FL
Want to say Thanks for ALL the help. Finally got it all solved today. It turned out to be a few things. I did not have voltage at the lights with the switch on based on Dubs question above. The headlight switch was bad - replacing that made the lights work - kind of.
They would flicker a bit. I then made a ground wire direct to the battery and figured I would go light by light to test the ground to see if things would improve. Got lucky - I started with the passenger side turn signal and when I went to take the bulb out - I forgot I had the headlights on. As I gripped the socket - the light came on super bright. Turned out the socket had a crack and it was not holding everything tight. I ended up replacing all the sockets and put in the LEDs I had bought. Working awesome now and the *** end is brighter than ever.
I was checking grounds and loose wires, etc. Never thought about a cracked socket. Maybe this will help someone else.
They would flicker a bit. I then made a ground wire direct to the battery and figured I would go light by light to test the ground to see if things would improve. Got lucky - I started with the passenger side turn signal and when I went to take the bulb out - I forgot I had the headlights on. As I gripped the socket - the light came on super bright. Turned out the socket had a crack and it was not holding everything tight. I ended up replacing all the sockets and put in the LEDs I had bought. Working awesome now and the *** end is brighter than ever.
I was checking grounds and loose wires, etc. Never thought about a cracked socket. Maybe this will help someone else.
Last edited by CaptTeo; Jan 10, 2016 at 05:20 PM.
