71 cuda taillights dont work

[jordan]

I have a 71 cuda.  My situation is that my brake lights dont work.  I checked my switch and it has continuity and works.  My double pink wire to the brake switch has 12v power.  White lead is open.  I have already replaced my rear harness and checked all the bulbs to correct sizes.  My right rear blinker is weak, and strong at random as it flashes at a regular rate.   I can hear the tick, tick, of the flasher only when I first turn on the flasher, and then the tick stops.  If I hold the flasher lever at a certain place, then the flasher continues to tick and it flashes.  Taillights work fine. 
      Where do I go from here?  From reading previous post, it looks like I need to replace my turn signal switch.  I am not sure what else to do.  While I am at it, I need a new horn relay (which I am having a hard time finding) so when I switch to a tuff wheel (as long as I have to take the steering wheel off), I can test the horns as well.  Where can I get a reasonably price horn relay? 
     Should I replace the ignition switch as long as I am there, or is that even further in the column than I want to go? 
     I would appreciate any advice you guys are willing go give out.                                             

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Welcome to the forum. First off, cheapest and easiest thing to get is two brand new/known good flashers. If you've never replaced them, go ahead and do it. It's a part that is cheap, easy to change, and I've had a couple fail on me before. You'll need two.

Second, if the rear harness is new, then I would certainly look toward the turn signal switch. Again, things are old, very old. I would also recommend doing the ignition switch as well as you mentioned. I have bought ones from year one, as well as the local parts stores and have had no issues with either. I personally start with the parts that I expect to be old/worn out, before I start trying to chase electrical bugs. As far as all the other lights go, make sure you have a good battery to BODY ground wire, and check for voltage at each bulb GROUND while you are operating it (once you get them all working). I was amazed to find 1-2v on the ground side of almost every factory bulb ground on my father in law's '76 and '79 Dodge trucks. Took a lot of time to get full power to all the bulbs, but man do they pop like new. 

[ShelbyDogg]

I agree, it's always a turn signal\emergency flasher switch causing no brake lights.  An easy test is to unplug it from down below and plug a new one into the connector.  no need to take off the steering wheel to do that.  Brake lights and turn signals all go though that switch.

[jordan]

Wow, thats a great tip.  Quick and easy plug in just to see if that is really the problem.  Thanks.
 
I just checked with year one, and they said three weeks for delivery for a turn signal switch!!  I started checking around the local car parts places and found one locally.  I gave them the standard tw7 part number, and some guys said it is just the two wire signal canelling cam.  One guy kept searching and said there is a special notation for the entire switch.  $75 bucks.  I have a horn relay on order, and am searching for a tuff wheel to do the project right.  I am not looking forward to doing the job, but I am looking forward to being able to drive.......finally.
 

[Chryco Psycho]

TW7 is the part I use & it works fine , you can test the pink wire into the switch for power & the brake ligt power back put of the switch , that is usually where the problem is

[jordan]

Most everything works now.  Although my right side is a little dimmer than the left out back.  Also, my pass. break light does not work with the headlights on.  Any reasons?  What should I look for.  I replaced the front wire and rear wire harness and the turn signal switch.  I do have a marker light not working on the left front, but I do have the pigtail to do it.  Hopefully I can get to it this weekend.  I appreciate any suggestions you have.  Thanks

[ShelbyDogg]

As long as you didn't get a Bill Evans Wiring harness, the dim light is probably a bad ground. On my cars, I sand or file down  a small spot on the sockets then solder a ground wire on and screw the end to metal. This is really needed on 70 challengers with the 4 rear sockets that get bumped out all of the time.

If you got the B.E. harness, If seen the pins inside the tail light sockets wired to the wrong pins and had to fix them.  Good luck with that because the guy is color blind......