Brake light problems!

[Mick65]

My brake lights are whooping my butt right now. I'm all out of ideas. When my headlights are off the right brake light works just fine but the lefts running light and break light are much more dim. When I turn my headlights on the running light/brake light on the right remains to work just fine but the running light on the left remains dim. When I hit the brakes with the headlights on the light on the left completely goes out. No running light or brake light.

The entire silver housing on the left reads hot when touched with a voltage reader. Would this be a ground problem? If so, why would it only effect one side? There is a factory ground on that side of the truck from the bed to frame. Would replacing this ground help?

Thank you everybody.

[wjjeeper]

Run separate grounds from each tail light bucket to your frame. Then check your wiring from the firewall right back to the tail lights for cross feed if that fails.

[61_FL_Apache]

Check your grounds. You cant have too many grounds.

[Hx16457]

If this is all old OEM you will have to trace each wire. Brakes in the insulation on the old wiring might be half of it! The other half is as everyone said...ground everything to the frame...
P.S. we have been there... Good luck

[Sledheed]

I would suggest rewiring from the firewall back. Pretty easy to do. Then u know what u have. I just did this. Used trailer wire. Comes four wire only need three firewall back. Used the white wire for all other shirt runs. When done wrapped every thing in back with electric tape and made sure it was up and out of they way. Any questions let me know. The wire i pulled out was junk. soldered all connection with shrink tube where needed. Put grounds on both tail light housings and the lisence plate lamp. They not only work. They are brighter.

[Sledheed]

This link was helpful. Good luck

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=312351

[wutnxt]

Well everyone has already told you what the problem is....it's the grounds for sure. These trucks are grounding nightmares and everytime I rewire them I always run extra grounds from each light back to the frame. I run new 4 gauge grounds from the battery to the block and back to the frame. I also ground out the front turn siginals again ......My motto is when in doubt run more grounds......lol

[Mick65]

Thanks gentlemen.

[Mick65]

Originally Posted by wjjeeper

Run separate grounds from each tail light bucket to your frame. Then check your wiring from the firewall right back to the tail lights for cross feed if that fails.

How did you run these grounds from the bucket to frame. Any pictures would be a huge help too. I'm sick of getting pulled over bc of this. Thanks!

[Sledheed]

Sanded the taillight housing down to bare metal just above the plug. Solder three feet of 14 gauge wire to it. Ran this wire with taillight and turn wire. Drlled hole in box underneath. Trimmed wire to lengh, Crimped and soldered r ring connector to end of wire. Attached to box/frame with small sheet metal screw.

[wjjeeper]

Originally Posted by Mick65

How did you run these grounds from the bucket to frame. Any pictures would be a huge help too. I'm sick of getting pulled over bc of this. Thanks!

I used self taping screws to mount the wire on the tail light buckets and the frame.....

[TJ's Chevy]

I don't have taillights on mine so lucky me!!! But, like said definitely check the grounds and if it is oem, check for bad housings and stripped covering....Hope you are able to trace it down! Good thing 60's electrical is simple! These newer cars drive me nuts when i pop the hood!

[kieth]

TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS WE SOLDERED A GROUND WIRE TO EACH LIGHT HOUSING, THEN PUT ALL THE WIRES IN A PLASTIC LOOM, THEN GROUNDED THE NEW WIRE TO A TERMINAL BLOCK MOUNTED TO THE TRUCK FRAME AT THE REAR. THIS COMMOM GROUNDING POINT ASSURES A GOOD GROUND AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT ONE PLACE IF THINGS ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. WE PUT ANOTHER AT THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND GROUNDED THE CAB, AND ALL LIGHTS TO IT. ALL THE LIGHTS ARE A LOT BRIGHTER.....

HERE IS A LINK TO THE GROUNDING BLOCK:
http://www.electricalconnection.com/...ution-main.htm

HERE IS THE BLOCK MOUNTED AT THE REAR OF THE FRAME ON MY 66

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...cH2c2&lb=1&s=A

[donthekawguy]

I replaced the two harnesses for the tail lights, replaced the headlight switch and dimmer switch, redid the female ends at the dimmer switch and put grounds on the tail light housings. That fixed all the problems I had.