Brake light help

[Cudaah]

Hello.  I noticed last year an intermittent problem with my brake lights.  Checked the #3 fuse (Top of my head I believe thats for the tail lights) and that is fine.  Just replaced the brake light switch and that should be good.  I ran a test light on the wire to the brake light switch and it lights up perfect.  All the other lights work - parking and also hazzards.  I am stumped!  Can anyone assist?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Grounds for the bulbs and turn signal switch kinda jump out at me. Whats the problem, they'd just quit on you?

[brads70]

    Just learning...... I haven't looked why yet , but the right side taillamps are all out on mine. Goody how are the lamps grounded? I did have the tail light assemblies out for awhile.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Brad,

  The ground connection for the tail lights comes from the tail light buckets making contact with the body of the car. This can be a problem if the car has fresh paint on it, or if you have a few broken or missing studs in those tail light buckets. Also make sure the bulb sockets aren't rusted and corroded.

[ShelbyDogg]

The brake light circuit has to come through the turn signal/emergency flasher switch.  Do both sides blink when you turn on the emergency flashers?     Still could be a bad switch

[Cudaah]

Yeah seems like they will go out only on occation and they come back when I check them again.  All the grounds are perfect.  And yes both sides blink with the flashers.  How hard is it to install a new turn signal switch in the column?

Thanks for all your help!

[purple1]

How hard is it to install a new turn signal switch in the column?

Its not that bad of a job. You got to get the crush can off, for that you need a puller small enough to fit inside. Drop the column at the dash after you get the can off. Take off the big support brace then the little plastic wire cover. The switch has three screws and the lever that need removed. Then the switch will come out of the column. Tricky to get the plug out and in the column but it will go.

Edit: Forgot the plate the screws hold. Here is a pic of a new one installed with the crush can still off.

[ShelbyDogg]

Yeah seems like they will go out only on occation and they come back when I check them again.  All the grounds are perfect.  And yes both sides blink with the flashers.  How hard is it to install a new turn signal switch in the column?

Thanks for all your help!

Before you install a new switch, wait till your brake lights stop working, plug a new switch in at the bottom of the column, without touching anything else, then try your brakes.   This could save you some time by not pulling the column apart to troubleshoot it. 

[Cudaah]

Thank you all.  I am going to order a new t/s switch and just plug it in and see if that does help.  Just checked all the connections again and lights worked fine and then boom nothing once again.

I did notice the orange wire from the turn signal switch wiring connecter is cut and not going anywhere.  Anyone know where this would connect too?

[swede-cuda]

 :burnout:at least on -70-71 cudas,the right taillight gets ground through the lock-rod cover.

[Cudaah]

Well I got the new switch and it came with 2 different sized connectors.  So it appears to be the wrong one but the only one I can find.  I did use the one connection and still no brake lights.  Does anyone know the difference between the years for the tun signal switch?  I may have to go buy a used one if I cant find anything else.

Mark

[brads70]

Brad,

  The ground connection for the tail lights comes from the tail light buckets making contact with the body of the car. This can be a problem if the car has fresh paint on it, or if you have a few broken or missing studs in those tail light buckets. Also make sure the bulb sockets aren't rusted and corroded.

Yep thanks! all fixed ....bad ground

[purple1]

Well I got the new switch and it came with 2 different sized connectors.  So it appears to be the wrong one but the only one I can find.  I did use the one connection and still no brake lights.  Does anyone know the difference between the years for the tun signal switch?  I may have to go buy a used one if I cant find anything else.

Mark

The new switches on the market are not made exactly the same as the ones in our cars. They have an extra connection for lights up front. Since our cars don't have those extra lights you can either cut the wires at the switch and remove the extra connector. Or just don't hook it to anything.

If it is not the switch, then it could be grounds or the connector at the dash harness to the rear lights is loose or something. What gets me confused is you say the hazzard lights are working? Can you verify that they are in fact working in the rear. How about any turn signals in the rear as well? If the hazzards and turn signals are working in the back then look again at the switch on the brake peddle.

[Cudaah]

Purple1 - Thank you now it all makes since to me.  Didnt understand why it had that extra connector.

Yes the turn signals work perfect along with the hazzards on each side.  I am going to check the connections once more and maybe adjust the brake light switch a bit more.  I did run a test light and I do have power to the brake light switch so I am good there.  Just the other day I tried the brake lights 3 days in a row and everything worked perfect.  Then I fired it up and then nothing. 

Thanks for all your help everyone

To be continued!

[Cudaah]

OK I am starting to tear the dash apart and see if I can see anything behind the dash.  I did just notice I do not have dash lights either :-(