Need some guidance

[Shon]

In my attempt to install an inertia brake controller on my 71.
I have it all wired up but when connected to trailer, the green light burns but touching brakes the light goes out OR if I turn on either turn signal it blinks.
I obviously tapped the wrong wired at the brake pedal, I hit the WHITE wire that goes to the plunger 'thing' on the brake pedal, which I thought this is what tells the rear brake lights to work. But it gets better....
I decided I wanted test the plunger so I began to remove the connection, it's a tight fit between it and the steering column, I pull it and end up bending slightly the little copper looking "metal tabs" and ends up hitting some metal and sparking therefore blowing the tail light fuse. So I replace that and try to put it all back together and then get my 4YO to tell me of the brake lights work, NO he says, but the turn signal does work.

I do not know if I have messed up that connection on the plunger or if at the same time my tail light burnt out, I knew I had one out, but by chance could both burnt and are they dual element bulbs b/c turnsignal works....just no brake lights now. I thought that with the plunger thing reassembled the lights would burn when I depressed it or just the opposite...anyway, no brake lights after removing the plunger, any thoughts?

[LockDoc]

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The brake lights come on then the plunger is out. When you push on the brake pedal it moves the arm away from the brake light switch and the plunger comes out. That turns on the brake lights. One of the tabs on the brake light switch might have bent over when you plugged the connector back in and not making contact. You also may have moved the switch and changed the adjustment. Sometimes the adjustment can be pretty critical on those. For such a small item those switches can be a pain in the a$$...

LockDoc

[Shon]

Could one disassemble plunger and touch the bronze/copper pieces to complete the circuit to demonstrate the same as depressing the pedal?
If so, I have done that and no luck, even putting the plunger back together the lights do not come on.

I bought new bulbs tonight and will put them in just to be sure I didnt burn the one that worked out...

Seems like the orange wire had voltage on it all the time but now it doesnt....

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Shon

Could one disassemble plunger and touch the bronze/copper pieces to complete the circuit to demonstrate the same as depressing the pedal?
If so, I have done that and no luck, even putting the plunger back together the lights do not come on.

I bought new bulbs tonight and will put them in just to be sure I didnt burn the one that worked out...

Seems like the orange wire had voltage on it all the time but now it doesnt....

You would have to insert a jumper wire in the plug to complete the circuit for the brake lights. I would try the new bulbs and pull all of the fuses and check them. Sometimes the fuse holders get rusty where the fuses snap in so I would check that too.

LockDoc

[haysonj]

Turn signal and brake uses the same element in the bulb so if your turn signals work it's not the bulbs. You probably have a blown fuse or you screwed up the switch when you took it apart. As for your original problem I would start checking all your grounds for the tail lights and the trailer.

[Shon]

Originally Posted by haysonj

Turn signal and brake uses the same element in the bulb so if your turn signals work it's not the bulbs. You probably have a blown fuse or you screwed up the switch when you took it apart. As for your original problem I would start checking all your grounds for the tail lights and the trailer.

where can I just get a new switch? It does not appear that the orange and white wire disconnect, so I am assuming I need to cut and splice a new one back in.....
and once I get this fixed, i will recheck all grounds.

[FingerTight]

Very interested in the outcome here.
Looking to wire up trailer brakes on my '69...

[Shon]

I got a new brake switch in the truck but I have yet to figure out the trailer brake controller issue.