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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Hello! '65 LWB C10 w/230.
Had no brake lights, running lights, or turn signals. Can't remember if the dash indicators were lighting up. Bought a new turn signal switch at the recommendation of my mechanic and changed it out myself. Viola! Problem solved. All lights were working great for a couple of days. Until... Now my in-dash signal indicators will sometimes blink, other times will stay on. No brake lights, running lights, or turn signal lights on the truck. Doesn't matter if my lights are on or not. What are my diagnostic steps here? I'm fairly certain I can rule out the turn signal switch as I just replaced it with Echlin part # ECH DL6173. Any help is appreciated!!
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Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 32
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Had a Very similar issue with my 66'. After replacing turn signal switch, headlight switch, AND dimmer switch, I turned my attention to the rear of the truck. Turned out the tail light housing did not have a good ground to the bed. I ran a separate ground wire from housing to the frame and BINGO! Lights have never been brighter and everything (tail lights, running lights, turn signals, etc) works perfectly. I have had other classic cars with electrical issues and bad grounds were the root cause. Kicked myself in the ass for not checking the grounds on my 66' FIRST before replacing parts
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Thanks Psst!
Awesome advice! I've been doing some further research on here and the ground seems to always be the major culprit. I just dropped my head under the rear bumper to see if there were any ground straps from the rear lights to the frame, and I did not see any whatsoever. Any advice on wiring from the housing to the frame? I'll give it a go and see if that's not the issue.
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Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 32
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
I wire wheeled the back of the housing, cleaned the contacts, wire wheeled where the housing contacted the bed, even added a 10g ground wire from frame to bed, and still didn't fix the problem. I finally used a small sheet metal screw and attached the terminal directly to the housing. make sure to put it low enough so you do not rip your fingers apart when replacing a bulb.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Complete with pics, too. Way to go! I'll give this a try and see what happens. Cheers!
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 32
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Quote:
Thanks sir, just trying to help! Funny thing is, this issue came to light two weeks ago. Also, the "Screw IN Housing" is not the IDEAL way I'd like to have it, but with the 66' being my Daily Driver right now (in between leases), I could not afford to not drive the truck to and from work, lol. |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Quote:
OOC: Did either your blinkers or brake lights work before you found the ground issue, or was it all dark?
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,460
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
I spent a while trying to track down why my truck didn't have brake lights or running lights, but the blinkers worked just fine at the time. Took me almost six months due to high school and baseball, but once I did, I wished I had looked there to begin with. I ended up replacing the rear light harness that goes from the frame to the lights, but that still didn't fix my issue. Turns out it was the fuse block inside the cab. One day, my dad was messing with the back side of the fuse block and wiggling stuff around and sure enough everything started working. The contact points had gotten very rusty. It ended up making my wipers not work at all either. I bought a original style fuse block from Brother's, but the company who makes it is M&H Electrical Fabricators Inc.
http://www.wiringharness.com/ Hope that kinda long explanation helps
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Quote:
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#10 | |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,460
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Quote:
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__________________
Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
Pssst,
Thanks a million my friend. I wired the assembly straight to the frame and everything is working great now. Never been brighter actually! Thanks a million for the advice and photo. Very helpful!
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#12 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 2,157
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Re: Brake Light and Turn Signal Diagnostics
I want to thank you guys for this thread. I remember cutting the cab to bed ground when I removed my bed, and never bothered to redo it. Last year, I started chasing an issue of a non-functioning left tail light. I tried everything, swapping bulbs, testing voltages, etc. No go. I bet it's a ground issue.
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turn signal issues, turn signal switch |
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