Sorting brake/turn lights
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
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Sorting brake/turn lights
Hello FT forum.
I'm working on a '69 F250 and having trouble with the lights on the back bumper. My headlights and taillights work. The turn signals work on three corners. One brake light works.
The passenger side rear turn signal doesn't work, and the drivers side brake light doesn't work.
I'm not sure exactly where to look next. The lights were fed into a trailer hookup which I've disconnected. I've taken out butt connectors and wire nuts that were on the wires and replaced them with clean, shrink wrapped splices. The wires are good at least from the point where they tap into what's left of the original harness. I've taken off the rear light housings and cleaned up where they attach so there's a good ground, which a continuity test confirms.
Any good ideas where to look next?
Thanks,
Steve
I'm working on a '69 F250 and having trouble with the lights on the back bumper. My headlights and taillights work. The turn signals work on three corners. One brake light works.
The passenger side rear turn signal doesn't work, and the drivers side brake light doesn't work.
I'm not sure exactly where to look next. The lights were fed into a trailer hookup which I've disconnected. I've taken out butt connectors and wire nuts that were on the wires and replaced them with clean, shrink wrapped splices. The wires are good at least from the point where they tap into what's left of the original harness. I've taken off the rear light housings and cleaned up where they attach so there's a good ground, which a continuity test confirms.
Any good ideas where to look next?
Thanks,
Steve
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
If the running light and brake light works on ONE side, then the wiring to the socket is good. If you are loosing a turn signal/brake light then I would suspect the turn signal switch has issues(or wiring to it). They brake lights go through that switch as that is what makes it blink for turn signals.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
2X Train. Note in the pic below that the T/S switch internally connects circuits 282 and 283 together when it gets power from the brake light switch. 810 then 10 to T/S switch. I bet your T/S switch feels rather sloppy also.
Also make sure the correct color coded wires were reconnected. And remove those rear bulbs and look at their bases. Make sure they are marked 1157. This is the correct industry standard number.
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Also make sure the correct color coded wires were reconnected. And remove those rear bulbs and look at their bases. Make sure they are marked 1157. This is the correct industry standard number.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
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Thanks for the help so far.
I got a new switch from Dennis Carpenter which solved most of the problems. BUT, the rear passenger side turn signal still doesn't work.
The wiring to the back seems OK- I switched the wires on the two pin connector from the TS switch and the passenger side rear light lit up (with the switch turned the other way) but the other side now did not work.
I'm pretty sure the wires are on the right pins in the connector clips, as everything else is working now including the horn, which didn't work before. All four lights work with the emergency flasher on.
it doesn't make sense to me, unless maybe the switch is defective... Any other ideas to look at?
thanks-
I got a new switch from Dennis Carpenter which solved most of the problems. BUT, the rear passenger side turn signal still doesn't work.
The wiring to the back seems OK- I switched the wires on the two pin connector from the TS switch and the passenger side rear light lit up (with the switch turned the other way) but the other side now did not work.
I'm pretty sure the wires are on the right pins in the connector clips, as everything else is working now including the horn, which didn't work before. All four lights work with the emergency flasher on.
it doesn't make sense to me, unless maybe the switch is defective... Any other ideas to look at?
thanks-
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
If the step bumper is aftermarket, it's possible that there's only one license plate lamp, it bolts to the body on the left side.
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Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
Thanks for the help so far.
I got a new switch from Dennis Carpenter which solved most of the problems. BUT, the rear passenger side turn signal still doesn't work.
The wiring to the back seems OK- I switched the wires on the two pin connector from the TS switch and the passenger side rear light lit up (with the switch turned the other way) but the other side now did not work.
I'm pretty sure the wires are on the right pins in the connector clips, as everything else is working now including the horn, which didn't work before. All four lights work with the emergency flasher on.
it doesn't make sense to me, unless maybe the switch is defective... Any other ideas to look at?
thanks-
I got a new switch from Dennis Carpenter which solved most of the problems. BUT, the rear passenger side turn signal still doesn't work.
The wiring to the back seems OK- I switched the wires on the two pin connector from the TS switch and the passenger side rear light lit up (with the switch turned the other way) but the other side now did not work.
I'm pretty sure the wires are on the right pins in the connector clips, as everything else is working now including the horn, which didn't work before. All four lights work with the emergency flasher on.
it doesn't make sense to me, unless maybe the switch is defective... Any other ideas to look at?
thanks-
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
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Finally got this one fixed. The new switch works fine, the problem was in trusting the PO's wiring. The steering column had been replaced at some time and the wires cut and spliced..... In the wrong places! I guess they thought one brake light and one turn signal was sufficient....
Using a color code chart, I just disconnected everything and redid it according to the info I found here at FT.
Thanks for the help!
Next up, replacing the crusty brake system and some new shocks.
Using a color code chart, I just disconnected everything and redid it according to the info I found here at FT.
Thanks for the help!
Next up, replacing the crusty brake system and some new shocks.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 406
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
I have had similar problems and I find them to be caused by the turn signal switch warping. These newer replacement bit are made out of cheap flexible plastic unlike the Ford originals. I thought that I had come up with a great solution to the flexibility problem.
I took the switch and poured Superglue into the voids and then poured baking soda into the Superglue. I completely filled the voids with this composite. they switch no longer flexes and I have all but one of turn signals and the right turn indicator.
As soons as I find that lost round Tuit I will pull that steering wheel back off an mess with the switch yet again.
I took the switch and poured Superglue into the voids and then poured baking soda into the Superglue. I completely filled the voids with this composite. they switch no longer flexes and I have all but one of turn signals and the right turn indicator.
As soons as I find that lost round Tuit I will pull that steering wheel back off an mess with the switch yet again.
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