Need Electrical Help , Please
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
Need Electrical Help , Please
I just had my rear tail lite panel replaced due to an accident and now the d.s. tail lite will not lite like it should. Been trying to fix it for 3 weeks now.
when i put the lites on the bulb is lit when I hit the brakes it goes out completely, but with the lites off the brake lite works ok. The p.s. is ok and works like it should. I've checked the ground, the bulb, the conections and just about everything I can think of and I'm out of brain now. So I thought you guys could help me out.
TIA
Rich
when i put the lites on the bulb is lit when I hit the brakes it goes out completely, but with the lites off the brake lite works ok. The p.s. is ok and works like it should. I've checked the ground, the bulb, the conections and just about everything I can think of and I'm out of brain now. So I thought you guys could help me out.
TIA
Rich
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
and i tried to check the ground and it seemed like it was getting good ground. on my 73 each lite is grounded to the bracket and then there is a single ground at the end of the harness that attaches to the frame. So how should I be checking these grounds one at a time or all at once? I am an eletrical dummy.
Rich
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
check the easy stuff first. Make sure its a 1157 bulb in the socket.
check to make sure bulb is inserted in socket properly,it should only go in 1 way but I/ve seen them installed incorrectly.
make sure ground wire is connected to tail lamp housing.
lastly pull off other tail lamp lenses to expose the bulbs.When parking lights are on make sure the same filament is lit for all the bulbs,same goes for when T.S/Emerg flasher is selected. if not the wires (pigtail connector) in socket is miswired 0r inserted incorrectly
check to make sure bulb is inserted in socket properly,it should only go in 1 way but I/ve seen them installed incorrectly.
make sure ground wire is connected to tail lamp housing.
lastly pull off other tail lamp lenses to expose the bulbs.When parking lights are on make sure the same filament is lit for all the bulbs,same goes for when T.S/Emerg flasher is selected. if not the wires (pigtail connector) in socket is miswired 0r inserted incorrectly
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Run your own 12V wire and ground wire from the battery. Nothing fancy, just a means to test the contacts in the socket.\
Using the ground wire from the battery, test and make sure you have 12V from one of the contacts when the taillights are on, and 12V on the other contact when the brake is on.
If both check out then you can rule out the wiring and switch.
Next, using the 12V lead, and a 12V light bulb, test the ground in the socket.
You'll have a good place to start looking once to confirm that the contacts in the sockets all work or don't all work.
Using the ground wire from the battery, test and make sure you have 12V from one of the contacts when the taillights are on, and 12V on the other contact when the brake is on.
If both check out then you can rule out the wiring and switch.
Next, using the 12V lead, and a 12V light bulb, test the ground in the socket.
You'll have a good place to start looking once to confirm that the contacts in the sockets all work or don't all work.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
check the easy stuff first. Make sure its a 1157 bulb in the socket.DID THAT
check to make sure bulb is inserted in socket properly,it should only go in 1 way but I/ve seen them installed incorrectly.DID THAT
make sure ground wire is connected to tail lamp housing.DID THAT
lastly pull off other tail lamp lenses to expose the bulbs.When parking lights are on make sure the same filament is lit for all the bulbs,same goes for when T.S/Emerg flasher is selected. if not the wires (pigtail connector) in socket is miswired 0r inserted incorrectly
check to make sure bulb is inserted in socket properly,it should only go in 1 way but I/ve seen them installed incorrectly.DID THAT
make sure ground wire is connected to tail lamp housing.DID THAT
lastly pull off other tail lamp lenses to expose the bulbs.When parking lights are on make sure the same filament is lit for all the bulbs,same goes for when T.S/Emerg flasher is selected. if not the wires (pigtail connector) in socket is miswired 0r inserted incorrectly
then when i put the brake on the d.s. bulb goes out completely and the p.s. works as it should.
Now, on a 73 the rear socket will only accept the pigtail one way the way it's designed.
O.K. NOW, correct me if a am wrong!!!!! When the bulb is put in the socket it creates or completes the ground????????? Right or Wrong??????????????
Last edited by 73 red vette; Dec 7, 2007 at 08:52 AM. Reason: save space
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Thanks for the response, yep that is just what happens.
and i tried to check the ground and it seemed like it was getting good ground. on my 73 each lite is grounded to the bracket and then there is a single ground at the end of the harness that attaches to the frame. So how should I be checking these grounds one at a time or all at once? I am an eletrical dummy.
Rich
and i tried to check the ground and it seemed like it was getting good ground. on my 73 each lite is grounded to the bracket and then there is a single ground at the end of the harness that attaches to the frame. So how should I be checking these grounds one at a time or all at once? I am an eletrical dummy.
Rich
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
This is the problem I found. when the lites are on the tall filament in both bulbs is lit
then when i put the brake on the d.s. bulb goes out completely and the p.s. works as it should.
Now, on a 73 the rear socket will only accept the pigtail one way the way it's designed.
O.K. NOW, correct me if a am wrong!!!!! When the bulb is put in the socket it creates or completes the ground????????? Right or Wrong??????????????
then when i put the brake on the d.s. bulb goes out completely and the p.s. works as it should.
Now, on a 73 the rear socket will only accept the pigtail one way the way it's designed.
O.K. NOW, correct me if a am wrong!!!!! When the bulb is put in the socket it creates or completes the ground????????? Right or Wrong??????????????
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If you will stick a bare piece wire in and touch the brass case of the bulb and ground the other end of that piece of wire your bulb will probably light up.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
You are correct if everything is as it should be.OK follow me -the voltage comes down the brown wire to the socket contact and enters the bulb into the filiment and out of the filiment through the brass case around the bulb into the socket ground and down the black socket wire to an actual ground somehwre on the frame.Thats perfect!!! But what happens when the brass case of the bulb cant make the connection to that black wire going to ground? It uses the brake light filiment as an alternitive ground.....UNTIL you press on the brake and then thats when the sht hits the fan...your alternitive ground is gone and the parking light goes out.
If you will stick a bare piece wire in and touch the brass case of the bulb and ground the other end of that piece of wire your bulb will probably light up.
If you will stick a bare piece wire in and touch the brass case of the bulb and ground the other end of that piece of wire your bulb will probably light up.
I want to thank you for the excellent explanation.
I am now an electrical wizard, thanks to you
I will now see if I absorbed any of your info,
Rich