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Brake Light Question 71'

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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 06:07 PM
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Default Brake Light Question 71'

I replaced my brake switch about 4-5 months ago and my brake lights went out again. Bought and installed a new brake switch, but no brake lights. Blinkers are functioning as well as back tail lights whenever the lights are on, just no brake lights.

Any help/suggestions?

Thanks

Last edited by Bfail; Mar 22, 2015 at 06:30 PM.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 06:09 PM
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I forgot to mention, the left blinker light stays solid even if the blinker is on or off. I am thinking that is a warning system though.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 06:57 PM
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When it comes to electrical issues....clearly describing what is going on helps greatly....so coming in a after a post and writing something that contradicts what you initially wrote....confuses me and I do not know what is going on.

Did you check your fuse for your stop lights?????

The orange wire at your brake light switch needs to be battery power at ALL TIMES. It does not matter if the key is on or off.

The white wire from the brake switch then goes into your turn signal switch...so unless you clarify exactly what is going on...I am just trying to help.

And I feel you have a ground issue at one or more of your light sockets.

IF your brake lights and turn signals WORK PERFECTLY when the headlights are OFF....and then....when you turn your headlights ON...they go crazy and do not act correctly...it is a ground issue....that is a FACT!

DUB
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by DUB
When it comes to electrical issues....clearly describing what is going on helps greatly....so coming in a after a post and writing something that contradicts what you initially wrote....confuses me and I do not know what is going on.

Did you check your fuse for your stop lights?????

The orange wire at your brake light switch needs to be battery power at ALL TIMES. It does not matter if the key is on or off.

The white wire from the brake switch then goes into your turn signal switch...so unless you clarify exactly what is going on...I am just trying to help.

And I feel you have a ground issue at one or more of your light sockets.

IF your brake lights and turn signals WORK PERFECTLY when the headlights are OFF....and then....when you turn your headlights ON...they go crazy and do not act correctly...it is a ground issue....that is a FACT!

DUB
I checked all of the fuses and nothing seems to be blown. Basically the lights and everything works fine, EXCEPT the brake lights. Last time I had this problem (6 months ago,) I changed the brake light switch and they worked perfectly, until about a week or two ago.

The regular lights don't flicker and there is definitely no flickering from my brake lights, which would definitely indicate grounding, like you suggested.

Basically, I'm looking for things to trouble shoot.

FYI, I had the car rewired about a year or 1.5 years ago, but haven't had any problems that I'm aware of with the quality of work.

Last edited by Bfail; Mar 22, 2015 at 07:06 PM.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 07:24 PM
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Do you have 12v on the orange wire at the brake pedal? Do you have 12v on the white wire when you press the brake down? If so, the problem is probably inside your turn signal switch, but post back those two answers first.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
Do you have 12v on the orange wire at the brake pedal? Do you have 12v on the white wire when you press the brake down? If so, the problem is probably inside your turn signal switch, but post back those two answers first.
So I got 12v to both wires when the brake switch was installed and only 12v to the orange wire without the brake switch installed.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 08:43 PM
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When you say "installed", do you mean "pedal depressed" (switch closed)? If so, and your brake lights aren't working, and your turn signals are, you most likely have bad contacts in your turn signal switch, or a loose connector in the column to the turn signal switch.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Bfail
I checked all of the fuses and nothing seems to be blown. Basically the lights and everything works fine, EXCEPT the brake lights. Last time I had this problem (6 months ago,) I changed the brake light switch and they worked perfectly, until about a week or two ago.

The regular lights don't flicker and there is definitely no flickering from my brake lights, which would definitely indicate grounding, like you suggested.

Basically, I'm looking for things to trouble shoot.

FYI, I had the car rewired about a year or 1.5 years ago, but haven't had any problems that I'm aware of with the quality of work.

"Flickering" has nothing to do with ground troubleshooting.
When you state previously that " left blinker light stays solid even if the blinker is on or off" is a common sign that there is a ground issue.
Why? Because there is no "chassis ground" on these cars - nearly all components have a dedicated ground wire. So, when a ground stops functioning it's not uncommon for the other components to function as a "ground" completing the circuit and causing bulbs to "glow" that shouldn't. At this point I'd at least spend some quality time verifying the ground to the tail lamps using a jumper from the battery straight to the lamp ground. It's simple and easy to do.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
When you say "installed", do you mean "pedal depressed" (switch closed)? If so, and your brake lights aren't working, and your turn signals are, you most likely have bad contacts in your turn signal switch, or a loose connector in the column to the turn signal switch.
Yes, that is correct. I'll look into the turn switches.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Hammerhead Fred
"Flickering" has nothing to do with ground troubleshooting.
When you state previously that " left blinker light stays solid even if the blinker is on or off" is a common sign that there is a ground issue.
Why? Because there is no "chassis ground" on these cars - nearly all components have a dedicated ground wire. So, when a ground stops functioning it's not uncommon for the other components to function as a "ground" completing the circuit and causing bulbs to "glow" that shouldn't. At this point I'd at least spend some quality time verifying the ground to the tail lamps using a jumper from the battery straight to the lamp ground. It's simple and easy to do.
Let me clarify, whenever I am driving, the left blinker light in the dash stays on. However, the actual turn signal is not blinking. If I engage the left turn blinker, it will work properly.

Thanks for your comments and I'll give your advice a try! Thanks
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Bfail
Let me clarify, whenever I am driving, the left blinker light in the dash stays on. However, the actual turn signal is not blinking. If I engage the left turn blinker, it will work properly.

Thanks for your comments and I'll give your advice a try! Thanks
So the left dash signal burns continuously in the dash - usually due to poor or no ground to the dash cluster. Try running a temp ground wire to the dash cluster and see if this resolves your issue(s). When the dash cluster can't find the ground from the cluster to the drivers pillar it will often route through the signal light causing the signal light to glow.
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