Taillight troubles
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Taillight troubles
I'm trying sort out non-working brake and turn signals in the rear. I'm dead the rear bumper so I'm trying to figure out which of the plugs up by the top of steering column is the one with the lights. There are three right there - a quad and a couple of doubles. Colors are pretty faded.
Any help would be appreciated.
Peter
Any help would be appreciated.
Peter
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From: St. Libory
Check the brake light switch. It is located just above the brake pedal. If this is bad it would cause your brake lights to not work, as well as your rear turn signals (all a turn signal is is your brake light blinking).
EDIT - There should be power coming off the turn signal switch going to the brake light switch. To determine if the brake light switch is bad, you could bypass it and see if you have power at the tail lights. Also, have you checked your fuses?
EDIT - There should be power coming off the turn signal switch going to the brake light switch. To determine if the brake light switch is bad, you could bypass it and see if you have power at the tail lights. Also, have you checked your fuses?
Last edited by jseim44; Jun 5, 2006 at 10:24 PM.
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OK, power is good after the brake switch and the switch in functioning. The problem must be in the harness between the switch and the run to the back of the truck. I ordered a wiring manual from LMC but it will be a long time getting here.
There are three plugs just inside the engine comparment - a quad, a double and a single - can anyone tell me what they contain?
Peter
There are three plugs just inside the engine comparment - a quad, a double and a single - can anyone tell me what they contain?
Peter
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Power goes from the brake switch to the turn signal switch then to the rear lights
Check the turn signal switch
Check the turn signal switch
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From: St. Libory
Check the turn signal switch
I'd have to check my '69 tomorrow for sure, but I think there are three wires to the rear. They would be park lights, brake/turn signal, and reverse lights. Your brake wire could be disconnected somewhere. It could also be bare and grounding out, but then I think it would blow fuses right and left.
Last edited by jseim44; Jun 6, 2006 at 08:20 PM.
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The fuses are not blowing, I think the problem is in the harness between the switch and the connector in the engine compartment. My volt meter isn't up to the task, tomorrow I have to buy a old fashioned test lamp and make an extension so I can hook it up to the brake light and work it from the cab. Working these things alone is a real pain in the a**.
Peter
Peter
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From: St. Libory
I'm not exactly following what you're saying about the extenstions on the test light. With a test light you just hook the clip up to a good ground source and then touch the other end to a bare wire, if it lights up you have power, if not then you either don't have power or have a bad ground. Now, if you wanted to measure resistence in the wires going to the back, then yes you would need a multimeter and some extentions.
It sounds like you're on the right track though. I really hate this sort of stuff, but it is a necessary evil. In my opinion, any wiring is a PITA. Period. I just like to see that stuff finally works right!!!
EDIT - I have a few ideas of what you could try, but I want to try it on my truck first and make sure that I'm right. I'll post back tomorrow morning sometime with the info that I found.
It sounds like you're on the right track though. I really hate this sort of stuff, but it is a necessary evil. In my opinion, any wiring is a PITA. Period. I just like to see that stuff finally works right!!!
EDIT - I have a few ideas of what you could try, but I want to try it on my truck first and make sure that I'm right. I'll post back tomorrow morning sometime with the info that I found.
Last edited by jseim44; Jun 6, 2006 at 08:54 PM.
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Originally Posted by jseim44
If his front turn signals work, that means his switch does too
I'd have to check my '69 tomorrow for sure, but I think there are three wires to the rear. They would be park lights, brake/turn signal, and reverse lights. Your brake wire could be disconnected somewhere. It could also be bare and grounding out, but then I think it would blow fuses right and left.
I'd have to check my '69 tomorrow for sure, but I think there are three wires to the rear. They would be park lights, brake/turn signal, and reverse lights. Your brake wire could be disconnected somewhere. It could also be bare and grounding out, but then I think it would blow fuses right and left.
. So maybe he should still check turnsignal switch? 
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From: St. Libory
73f100shortbed,
Well, ya caught me. I'd never thought of it that way. Did you blow fuses? When my turn signal switch was bad, I couldn't keep a good fuse in it. As soon as I hit the brake pedal it blew the fuse cause my TSS was bad and it was shorting out. I also forgot that I didn't have a flasher unit so my fronts didn't work, otherwise they probably would've without my rears.
workingdog,
I guess if you wanted you could bypass all the switches by just putting power to the wire for your brake lights. This would at least eliminate bad switches, or bad wiring.
Well, ya caught me. I'd never thought of it that way. Did you blow fuses? When my turn signal switch was bad, I couldn't keep a good fuse in it. As soon as I hit the brake pedal it blew the fuse cause my TSS was bad and it was shorting out. I also forgot that I didn't have a flasher unit so my fronts didn't work, otherwise they probably would've without my rears.
workingdog,
I guess if you wanted you could bypass all the switches by just putting power to the wire for your brake lights. This would at least eliminate bad switches, or bad wiring.