tailight wiring help
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
tailight wiring help
I just got a pair of stainless steel tailights from a friend. The tailights on these only have two wires going to the lights. One brown, one black. The tailights I have has an additional plug (two bulbs in the housing) Don't know why? I have a wire from the brake switch going to the back and also left and right blinkers, which wire is suppose to go where? And is there a ground wire somewhere? Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: MOYOCK NC
one of the wires is for the brake/turnsignal light and the other is for the parking lights i would assume that you have 1157 bulbs in the housings if i rember right the brown is the running/parking lights and the black is for brake lights the housing is the ground for the bulbs
hope this helps
Gee Ooh
hope this helps
Gee Ooh
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: San Mateo, CA
Well, the turn signal light and brake lights do go in together as one wire for each taillight. Inside the taillight bulb housing, there are two individual contact points that push up against individual points on the bottom of the 1157 bulb. One of the contact points gives power to the running light filament (dim), the other contact point powers the brake/turnsignal filament (bright). There is no ground wire...the bulb housing is the ground.
Last edited by F250Rob; Jun 1, 2005 at 10:22 PM.
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Postmaster
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From: Santa Clarita
F250 - I understand what your saying, my current system has one wire (turn signal L or R), I have the parking lights wire/ headlights, and a brake light wire. How do I get the headlight wire and brake light wire to connect to one terminal of the 1157 bulb. My old housing looks like someone added another filament/ bulb by drilling a hole and adding it for the turn signals. I like the look of the two wire better. I have two separate wires coming from the back of the turn signals.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Waynesville, OH
The trick, I believe is in the turn signal switch. Here is a diagram.
Note that there is a single wire from the turn signal switch to the brake/turn signal filament in the 1157 bulb. The turn signal switch takes care of routine that wire to either the brake system or the turn signal flasher depending on the position of the turn signal level. That's how you get two functions out of one filament (the bright one) in the 1157 tail light bulb.
Note that there is a single wire from the turn signal switch to the brake/turn signal filament in the 1157 bulb. The turn signal switch takes care of routine that wire to either the brake system or the turn signal flasher depending on the position of the turn signal level. That's how you get two functions out of one filament (the bright one) in the 1157 tail light bulb.
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Postmaster
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From: Santa Clarita
Thanks Earl, however since I don't like messing with the electrical more than I need to, I think I'll leave it alone. Don't want to mess with turn signal switches etc. I guess I could always drill and install another plug on the nice stainless taillights I have. Sure looks better with only one connection. Or... I could eliminate the signals altogether and just run brake lights. LOL.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Ed -
Why not just pair up the brake/turn wires into one lead on each side? I would do that under the truck and then just run one wire (plus the running light wire) to the lamp. Looks stock and would work that way, too.
At least you're not still futzing with the brakes on that thing...
Why not just pair up the brake/turn wires into one lead on each side? I would do that under the truck and then just run one wire (plus the running light wire) to the lamp. Looks stock and would work that way, too.
At least you're not still futzing with the brakes on that thing...
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
LOL... What are trying to say Randy... Who told you my brakes were done? LOL.. Actually, my vacuum booster is bad so I'm replacing it today. Not finished yet. I did drive the truck this past weekend and it stopped, so that's a good thing. At least your not seeing more brake conversion and brake line posts huh? As for the wiring, I'm the type of person that puts two wires together and it blows out more than one fuse. But I may give this a try anyways. Wiring is not my thing. Brakes are!!! Thanks Randy.
Ed
Ed
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
Wiring really isn't that different than brakes! instead of brake lines carrying the brake fluid you have wires carrying electrons. The electrons make a device work just like the fluid does, and the electrons are pushed by the battery just like the fluid is pushed by the mastercylinder. the switch cuts the electrical "pressure" on and off just like pushing on the brake pedal turns the fluid pressure on and off. The biggest difference is the electricity doesn't "back up" the same conductor back to the battery like the brake fluid does so it needs a separate return line, namely the ground circuit which could be a wire connected to the other battery terminal from each device but for simplicity the metal of the body and chassis acts as one big line back.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
LOL. AX, your alright in my book. I made the comment that I'm not good with electricity like I am with brakes, was made jokingly to Randy Jack. This brake conversion on my truck has been taking about 3-4 months and about 20 or more posts.( in other words some of us are tired of hearing me still working on the brakes) I don't mind either one and I get enjoyment on just working on the truck and seeing results. Thanks for the explanation though.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Canada
Signal lights
Have you got a 7 wire signal light switch, or a 6. If its the 6 thats probably why someone has drilled and installed the extra socket, in the tail light.
I seen this same application on a 51 Ford car. As I am not familiar with the wiring diagram on the signal lights, I can't comment on that part.
I seen this same application on a 51 Ford car. As I am not familiar with the wiring diagram on the signal lights, I can't comment on that part.