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1970 with wiring nightmare

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Old Jul 15, 2025 | 08:41 PM
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Default 1970 with wiring nightmare

Working through a bubba inspired electrical nightmare. Car is a 1970, 454, 4-speed car. The person added a second 2-pole connector to the rear of the car and did not use a back-up light connector. Thus, when you hit the turn signal, both of the right or both of the left lights blink.
  1. Turn on the headlights and all the rear light and marker light work... yeah
  2. Turn the left signal on and the dash light flashes on the left and the left front and rear blinkers work... yeah
  3. Turn the right turn signal on, and the dash LEFT light blinks, rear blink on the right as they should and BOTH front signals flash... pretty amazing to see
  4. No flashers (could be the flasher fuse on the block)
  5. No brake lights (could be the brake light with)
Any thoughts on where to start? No, I do not want to put in new wiring harnesses if at all possible.
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Old Jul 16, 2025 | 10:15 PM
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Well, I have decided to start with a new turn signal switch and a new brake light switch. This way, I can then chance the gremlins from there. Wish me luck.
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Old Jul 16, 2025 | 10:58 PM
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You should also look at the grounds for the taillights, when they are bad, apply, types of strange things will occur. Look at a wiring schematic to see if someone has monkeyed with the wiring.
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Old Jul 16, 2025 | 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Eliredandblack
You should also look at the grounds for the taillights, when they are bad, apply, types of strange things will occur. Look at a wiring schematic to see if someone has monkeyed with the wiring.
bad grounds can cause all sorts of weird problems especially with Corvettes! Check your grounds first. I’d check my turn signal and brake switch out with an ohm meter.
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Old Jul 17, 2025 | 03:44 PM
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I would also pull the bulbs and verify they you have actual bulbs and not LED's.
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Old Jul 17, 2025 | 06:47 PM
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All sound advice above. The grounds on each side (driver’s/passenger’s) have a jumper between the metal housings, then a ground wire is ran over to the frame. Any of those could be lacking, as in corroded, rusted, disconnected. On top of that, the jumpers and ground to frame rely on/are bolted to the metal tail light housing studs. Those studs are often very corroded. All 8 of mine were so corroded, rusty and weakened that they snapped upon trying to remove them, even after wire brushing the threads and multiple soakings with PB Blaster.
To get at everything adequately though a drop of the tank and exhaust may be in order. This area is the first area I’m tackling on my ‘71 and has taken considerable hours to get to the point where I’m close to getting them back in there. I did buy a new rear harness though. I figured if everything else was that bad, why risk putting everything back up in there only to have to pull it again due to a wiring issue. Best of luck to you!
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Old Jul 17, 2025 | 07:47 PM
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Thanks for the replies! All bulbs are new, and I will check the grounds all the way around.
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Old Jul 19, 2025 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Boomer880
Thanks for the replies! All bulbs are new, and I will check the grounds all the way around.
Please let us know what you find.
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Old Jul 19, 2025 | 05:31 PM
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Cleaned the grounds and replaced the turn signal switch. Now the turn signals work as planned. I did not get a chance to replace the brake light switch, but will work on the brake lights next week. There was one black wire cut on the harness, so this surely was part of the problem.
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Old Jul 19, 2025 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Boomer880
Cleaned the grounds and replaced the turn signal switch. Now the turn signals work as planned. I did not get a chance to replace the brake light switch, but will work on the brake lights next week. There was one black wire cut on the harness, so this surely was part of the problem.
Awesome! Glad to hear you got it figured. Life is good!
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