Tale lights/brake light disaster

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Apr 26, 2005 | 08:13 AM

Dustin_86

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Tale lights/brake light disaster

My 86 has tale lights with the passanger one being really bright and drivers side normalish dim. But no brake lights I swapped out brake light switchs and still nothing. I pulled the bulb out of the sockets and I can't seem to get the test light to show anything. I believe it is just a ground with a test light because thier is power back there and I tested the light and it DOES work. But why no brake lights and one tale light brighter than another?
Dustin

Apr 26, 2005 | 01:26 PM

tad32287

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Not to sure on your problem, I have no brake lights or turn signal on my 80. Tested the voltage and there is voltage. The bulb is good, and even cleaned the ground wire real good. still nothing

Apr 26, 2005 | 06:00 PM

mudgepondexpress

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From: Spokane, WA

TAD...

I will venture to guess you have a bad turn signal switch. On these vehicles, the turn signal switch controls both the turn signals and the brake lights...this is why it runs one bulb.

Dustin...

A really dim bulb usually denotes a bad ground on the bulb. You might need to clean the wiring connections from the light pigtail to the harness/ground.

You could also have a bad turn signal switch.

Kenny

Apr 27, 2005 | 08:07 AM

Dustin_86

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Would it be a bad turn signal switch even if the turn signals work?
The dim side looks normal it is the BRIGHT side that concerns me what can cause this?

Apr 27, 2005 | 10:22 AM

mudgepondexpress

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From: Spokane, WA

If the turn signals work both sides, it is probably OK. The bulb could be bad, could be broken and the filaments touching each other, could have a set of crushed wires, where the low side (marker/parking) is feeding the high side (turn/brake). When you hit the brakes do both increase in brightness? When using the turn signal, does the one get even brighter and flash or is it the same and just flashes?

Kenny

Apr 27, 2005 | 12:00 PM

ronclark

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From: Fleming Ga

If all your grounds are ok, check and make sure that you have 1157 double terminal bulbs in the light sockets. Have seen single terminal bulbs put in and it shorts the tail lights and turn signal together.

Apr 27, 2005 | 09:29 PM

Dustin_86

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Update back blinkers don't work but front do. I replaced the dim side with a new 1157 and now they are both REALLY bright like the brake light is stuck on.