no brake lights...
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Hendersonville TN
no brake lights...
I wired my truck(54)with a harness from Bob's F-100-it is a 350 Chevy harness...I didn't use a GM column...here's my question...why don't I have any brake lights?Every thing else has worked-I know they are hooked up right!A friend thinks it has something to do with the wiring that is supposed to go to the GM column...HELP!
Tuned
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 436
Likes: 32
From: Sonoita
Ground??
thelast time I didnt have tail lights was when I did'nt have a good ground wire. Run a test ground wire from the frame to the metal housing, if you get lights, you found your problem.
If you clean up the area's around the bed mounting bolts you can fix the grounding problem. I still have an extra ground wire runnning to the lic frame (in the back).
If you clean up the area's around the bed mounting bolts you can fix the grounding problem. I still have an extra ground wire runnning to the lic frame (in the back).
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,571
Likes: 22
From: Oxford, Indiana
Tsk, tsk, tsk. See? This is the heartburn you Chevy guys buy yourselves when you start hacking up a perfectly good Ford.
What about the turn signals? You didn't mention them. Do they work in the rear? Or do you even have the GM column plug hooked up to anything? If not, then there is absolutely no doubt that that is where your problem is. All modern (60's through current) wiring schematics for ANY brand of vehicle that uses the same light bulb filament for a brake light and turn signal will route the brake light feed from the brake light switch, through the turn signal switch, and then out to the lights. The turn signal switch must be in the circuit or they won't work. They do it this way so that the turn signal can be given priority over the brake light on a given side when the signal is turned on. When the signals are both off, the priority defaults back to the brake lights. No switch, no lights.
What about the turn signals? You didn't mention them. Do they work in the rear? Or do you even have the GM column plug hooked up to anything? If not, then there is absolutely no doubt that that is where your problem is. All modern (60's through current) wiring schematics for ANY brand of vehicle that uses the same light bulb filament for a brake light and turn signal will route the brake light feed from the brake light switch, through the turn signal switch, and then out to the lights. The turn signal switch must be in the circuit or they won't work. They do it this way so that the turn signal can be given priority over the brake light on a given side when the signal is turned on. When the signals are both off, the priority defaults back to the brake lights. No switch, no lights.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Hendersonville TN
So...
...if I plug in one of those GM switches...the brake lights will work?Keep in mind I'm using the stock column...I had no plans to have turn signals...I have one of those old universal type signal units I could use,I guess.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,571
Likes: 22
From: Oxford, Indiana
Yes, but it would be a whole lot less messy under the dash if you were to just locate the wire coming from the brake light switch into the plug and then the one coming back out of it and going to the lights, cut them off at the plug, and butt splice them together.
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