Break light issues

[Mick65]

Hello all,

I cannot figure out why my left break light isnt working. I had a tow harness on the truck and cut it out leaving a brown wire hanging loose. I didn't think it was needed but it looks like it may be. Where should the brown wire coming from the left break light go?

Thank you everybody.

[61_FL_Apache]

Ground ground ground... Check all your grounds back there..

[Mick65]

The brown is the ground? What should i hook it up to?

[donthekawguy]

Brake not break. Sorry a pet peeve of mine.

[jtrichard]

Originally Posted by donthekawguy

Brake not break. Sorry a pet peeve of mine.

DITTO on the brake thingforever

[Mick65]

Moving on... Constructive replies would be great

[TxRat]

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/se...4_PC001524.pdf

This should help...

[Mick65]

Thanks TxRat. I have a similar diagram. My truck is a 65 and does not have the license plate light. Thats whats throwing me off..

[Mick65]

Wow. Didn't know I could come here for grammar advice too. Thanks folks.
Posted via Mobile Device

[earl84]

Mick65, I am only going from memory here, since I am not at home right now, and I am not an electrical guru by any means. I am installing an American Autowire harness, and if I recall correctly the brown wire provides power to the taillights and license plate when the headlight switch is turned on. I am pretty sure on the AAW harness that the brown wire went from the left rear taillight into a double wire terminal, then to the right rear taillight to a double wire terminal, then to the license plate light.
So, the brown wire is not a ground wire, but a power wire. I think the grounding happens when the brake pedal is applied and provided by the brake switch. Lots of people will add a ground from the taillight housing to the frame. This is not a part of the normal wiring harness, it is an addition they make to provide better grounding in the rear because lots of issues back there can be attributed to poor grounds.
Hope this helps somewhat. Incidentally, I could probably out-spell most people on this forum, but don't feel the need to correct anyone unless it's part of a business they operate, which literally makes me not want to do business with them if that is their level of attention to detail. That's my pet peeve.

[earl84]

Now that I think about it, the grounding occurs from the taillight housing to the body of the truck. See, I told you I wasn't an electrical guru, but I am a spelling guru, haha. Woogeroo, are you trying to stir the pot? lol

[jtrichard]

Earl the brake light switch does not ground it provides power thru the turn signal switch then to each brake light left and right ....as far as i know there are no ground wires in the original rear wiring harness...yes it is good to run a ground from each tail light housing to the frame to insure a good ground...and the grammar/spelling comment was meant to be tongue in cheek if it was not for spell check mine would be terrible and sometimes it still is lol ....... edit EARL we were both typing at the same time

[earl84]

jtrichard, I know your comment was tongue in cheek, that's why you had a smiley face, I just am in a mood and want everyone to get along. No point in posting a comment for the sole purpose of calling someone out on something as silly as spelling like the original spelling commenter did. There's plenty of crap in life we all have to deal with that actually matters. Enough about the spelling already, whew.
I just hope Mick65 gets his issue fixed.

[gofastnut]

Hey Mick65,
Howz it goeng?
Have you got it fegurd out yet?

[Irishbleueyes]

Where would we be without our **** stirrers...

[Keating121]

Ben workin on me lite issues two!! Hahaha Couldn't resist.

I really have been working light issues for the past 2 days, I found a spare brown wire too. I've been researching diagrams and the license plate is brown as are the tail lights, but my "extra Brown wire" was, I believe, an extra left over from when it had the side running lights on the back and front fenders.

Didn't help my problems, but knowledge is Power!! Good Luck!!