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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Shawano, WI
Posts: 94
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Brake light issues
First started off with the right rear turn signal not working.....turned out the complete socket was shot. So I replaced that.
Now with the head lights off, blinkers work and brakes work. With the head lights on.....blinkers work but the brake lights do not come on. Any ideas? The wiring is not stock. So if there is a way to at least start to figure out how to connect it. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Dallas Tx
Posts: 5
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Re: Brake light issues
Try replacing the headlight switch. They tend to wear out and short out the tailights when the headlights are on.
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#3 |
Robert Olson Transport
![]() Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: recent transplant to NC USA
Posts: 20,288
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Re: Brake light issues
make sure that there is no short in the harness between the brake light switch and headlights.. ive seen this on a truck with rot
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Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!! |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Brake light issues
I can't quite tell from your avatar picture: Is it a stepside?
If so, it could be a ground issue. On my '80 stepper, I used to take the taillight brackets off every spring and repaint them and reinstall with new stainless fasteners. It came with little star washers on the taillight brackets, which were supposed to cut into the paint (which they did) and provide the ground, but since they would get all rusty I would repaint and replace tem. Eventually I had no turn signals and no brakelights. When I finally figured out what was going on I added a separate ground wire from the light socket down to the frame rail. Problem solved! K
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Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 06-11-2009 at 07:25 PM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bailey, NC
Posts: 2,462
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Re: Brake light issues
Get a test light, ground it , test both sides of the rear stop lamp with the brake pressed. If the test light lights up on both terminals you have a ground problem.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Shawano, WI
Posts: 94
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Re: Brake light issues
yep, it's a step side and the tail lights are out of a gremlin. So completely a home wire job...which was why I'm trying to figure out what goes where. The color of the wires are what ever the previous owner had, so nothing I can compare to stock.
I replaced one socket, the original one was metal and the new one is plastic. So I may need to ground it??? There were two wires going to it, so how do I know what one to ground. I'll start with the test light also to see if both of the contacts light up like you said. Just wierd when everything works except at with the headlights on. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Brake light issues
Grounding issues can definitely result in weird behavior.
I clamped the bare end of the ground wire to the (metal) taillamp socket, and then ran the other end to a good clean bare spot on the frame. You may have to do something a bit more tricky if your socket is plastic. K
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Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ |
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