Brake Light Challenge

  #1  
Old 11-10-2012, 10:42 AM
DarkWolf40's Avatar
DarkWolf40
DarkWolf40 is offline
Elder User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Brake Light Challenge

OK, for all you electrical guru's, here's the challenge:
1967 F250 retro-rod, used a Painless 18 circuit non-GM column wire harness an IDIDIT tilt column, and I made a custom dash with all Auto Meter gages. Everything worked great for several years then all of a sudden the brake lights and the turn signals are not working. What’s more, when I step on the brakes, both turn signal lights on the dash light up and the front turn signals light up. OK, it gets even weirder, when I pull out the emergency flasher button on the steering column, everything changes. Now when I step on the brakes, the dash lights stay off and only the right side brake lights up. When I use the turn signals, they work, but opposite corners light up, so right turn gives left rear and right front. I’ve looked at the connections on each brake and turn signal, nothing obvious as I kept the old connectors. I pulled the turn signal switch from the column and it also looks OK. So, anybody got any suggestions on how to proceed? I know there's some smarts guys out there that could figure this out in about 5 minutes but I'm a dummy when it somes to electrical stuff
 
  #2  
Old 11-10-2012, 12:20 PM
BPofMD's Avatar
BPofMD
BPofMD is offline
FTE Legend

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Millersville, MD
Posts: 65,302
Received 1,074 Likes on 976 Posts
Sounds like a short (or 2) inside the column.
 
  #3  
Old 11-10-2012, 06:51 PM
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Franklin2 is offline
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 53,562
Likes: 0
Received 1,654 Likes on 1,337 Posts
This will be interesting, since this is all custom. Do you have a diagram? I am assuming you have some sort of instructions for the column and it's turnsignal switch? If not, can you get it off their site?

If you get the instructions, you are going to have to use them or their generic diagrams to figure yours out. Everything you are describing points to the turnsignal switch as the culprit, or something in the column that was mentioned by a previous poster.

Get a voltmeter and set it to ohms. Unplug the turnsignal switch, and then make sure it's in the middle position. Looking at the diagram of the switch, put one meter lead on the terminal that went to the brake switch, and put the other meter lead on one of the terminals leading to the rear brake/turn lights. You should have a low ohm reading between the brake switch input terminal, and both the left and right rear turn with the switch in the middle. Once you get this, leave the lead on the brake input terminal, and then start touching the other terminals on the switch. If you get continuity(low ohm reading) on any of the other terminals, the switch is bad.
 
  #4  
Old 11-10-2012, 08:18 PM
BPofMD's Avatar
BPofMD
BPofMD is offline
FTE Legend

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Millersville, MD
Posts: 65,302
Received 1,074 Likes on 976 Posts
MAKE SURE THE POWER IS OFF before you do this.... being in OHMS and power on can make all the electrons leave your meter! In other words .... ka-pow!
 
  #5  
Old 11-11-2012, 10:32 AM
DarkWolf40's Avatar
DarkWolf40
DarkWolf40 is offline
Elder User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Excellent info, I'll do this and let you know the results
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jpeckham
Electrical Systems/Wiring
7
01-22-2014 05:12 PM
rezdawg
1999 to 2016 Super Duty
3
10-09-2012 12:05 PM
Blue Rust
Electrical Systems/Wiring
2
12-23-2010 09:25 PM
RDON
Electrical Systems/Wiring
2
07-12-2006 10:48 PM
Jim VA.
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
06-18-2003 07:23 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Brake Light Challenge



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:44 AM.