68 brake light issue
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 281
From: Scottsdale Arizona
68 brake light issue
I finally got my car back from the body shop. I charged the battery and started checking to make sure all the lights were working. The marker lights, headlights and taillights all work as they should. The brake lights only work on the driver side. Same thing with the hazard lights. The left turn signal works on the driver side, but does not flash on the right. When I turn on the right signal the indicator light does not flash only stays on solid. The turn signal switch isn’t working right either since I now have to hold it to make it work. I read that the brake lights go through the turn signal switch. Could the switch be bad?
Last edited by sullyman56; Jan 15, 2020 at 09:09 AM. Reason: .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 1,365
I agree. Swap out the lamps for the taillights and the front turn signal lamps before going into deeper troubleshooting. Tell us what happens after that. Ensure the connector below the steering wheel is nice and tight and snapped together. Then get back to us. It is true that the turn-signal switch affects this, but do the lamps first.
Last edited by carriljc; Jan 15, 2020 at 01:57 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 485
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
Also clean out those sockets...sometimes the bulbs are good but the connection to the socket is bad. I had an intermittent issue with my brake lights and it was solved by some fine grit sandpaper cleaning of the socket. Also check the wiring in the back between and to the sockets.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 38,289
Likes: 2,065
From: California
Probably plugged that lamp in wrong (harness to connections). Drop one out from the side that works, and make sure you switch the wire colors similarly on the lamp side not working right. Lamps have nothing to do with this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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Lamps absolutely can have something to do with this. Experience is a useful tool. There is a reason folks are voicing this. It may not be the lamps, but it's the place to initiate the troubleshooting. Remember to checks grounds also.
Last edited by carriljc; Jan 16, 2020 at 01:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 281
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I forgot to include that everything, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals worked before on both sides. I turned on the left signal and heard something snap. To make the signals work I have to hold the lever up or down. I replaced the original turn signal switch because it too was broken. I suspect the switch I bought is a typical example of aftermarket junk.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 1,365
Well, that was a rather important piece of information. If something snapped and the lever doesn't stay in place, then you need to look there. I repaced mine years ago because I was having oddball symptoms with turn signal, brake lights, and tail-lights. Let me see where I got it. Meanwhile - go pull your steering wheel off and take a look inside. Take a picture befoe touching anyting once the wheel is off.....
I forgot to include that everything, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals worked before on both sides. I turned on the left signal and heard something snap. To make the signals work I have to hold the lever up or down. I replaced the original turn signal switch because it too was broken. I suspect the switch I bought is a typical example of aftermarket junk.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 1,365
I looked. I got mine from mid-america but they don't have any in stock right now. It's been longer than I though. It was 1993. Anyway, I looked around and this seems to be a good price from a reputable company. https://www.classicindustries.com/pr...CABEgI6DvD_BwE
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 463
Likes: 129
A lot of the after market turn signal switches are junk. I recommend this company - https://www.shee-mar.com/storefront.html
I put one in my 68 10 years ago or so and haven't had any problems.
John
I put one in my 68 10 years ago or so and haven't had any problems.
John
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 281
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Just to follow up on my problems with the brake lights on my 68. I replaced the turn signal switch and the flasher that I found that had gone bad. I also cleaned all the grounds on the rear lights and put everything back together. All the lights are working properly now. Thanks to everyone that responded and the advice they provided. Sure is nice to have everything working again.