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Tail Light Issue

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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 12:08 PM
  #1  
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Default Tail Light Issue

1969 corvette L46

Here's my problem:

When I hook up my battery the rear outboard lights turn on. Front lights are not on just the rear outboards.

Can someone help me figure out what to do to solve this.

Thanks for your help.
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 12:28 PM
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Do you know which color wire is supplying the power to the light? This would help diagnosis the issue. So I'd pull one of the plugs and see which wire has the power on it.

But assuming the power is coming in on the brown wire... I'd check the brown wire at the front to rear harness connector on the forward side for power first. The power to the tail lamps comes from the headlamp switch on the brown wire and it's easily found behind the driver side kick panel. If you have power on this wire then you probably have a switch or switch ground issue. The headlamp switch has a grounding ring on it that grounds the switch to the speedo housing. (shown below)

If the power is coming in on the green and yellow, then I'd go to the turn signal switch connector and check the connection at the turn signal switch and make sure it's ok, then I'd check the brake lamp switch and see if maybe it hasn't malfunctioned and as Alan stated above, check the grounds at the lamps themselves.

This issue could be a ground issue, it could also be a turn signal switch issue or it could be a defective headlamp switch (or headlamp switch ground) issue.

-Willcox




Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Apr 5, 2017 at 12:41 PM.
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 12:36 PM
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Check the brake light switch. Outers are lights and brakes.

Last edited by Easy Mike; Apr 5, 2017 at 12:37 PM.
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 12:47 PM
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Behind the brake pedal... there is a lever on the side of the pedal that hits it when you push the brakes. Easy to find.


Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Apr 5, 2017 at 12:52 PM.
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 12:47 PM
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Under the dash up behind the pedal arm. It's dark up there.

Quick check is to pull up on the brake pedal and see if the brake lights go out.
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 01:23 PM
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Thanks to all..It was the brake light switch. It was not engaged.

I'm having a problem trying to readjust it ... any suggestions. It's reall hard to access and to put an open end on it. What a pain.
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 04:47 PM
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It's kind of hard to get to but the easiest way I've found is you hold the nut and turn the switch. (after you unplug it).
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Old Apr 5, 2017 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
It's kind of hard to get to but the easiest way I've found is you hold the nut and turn the switch. (after you unplug it).
That's a great idea... Thanks
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