Well hello. I have recently acquired a 1971 F-250. I have been reading this forum for some time and I think I know the answer to my problem, but I thought I would put it before the wise members of this forum and check before I tear the stearing wheel off.

I cannot get my brake lights to work. The bulbs work (both elements). The rear directional blinkers work properly but the front directional blinkers both blink are the same time whichever direction is chosen. They blink at about the correct speed. The regular taillights and headlights work correctly. The brake light switch works correctly. The sockets have been cleaned and cleaned again.

I thought the turn signals and the brake lights were on a separate circuit and thought there was probably just a break in the wire, but last night I read on the forum that the blinkers and the brakelights were on the same circuit and run through the blinker switch on the column.

I started from the brake switch and started to search for a break. I got to a bundle to the left of the column behind the dash and then the wire (which came on when the brake pedal was pushed with a test light) disappeared into a bundle which split. Half of the bundle went back to the control column area behind the dash, and the other half went through the firewall into the engine compartment.

Before I either tear the bundles apart to continue following the wire or pull the steering wheel to replace the turn signal I would like some expert advice. Thanks, Bob

 

Hi zak2u2 and welcome to FTE. Sounds like you are on the right track.Your next step should be to test the stop light wire for power at the t/s switch connecter with the brake pedal depressed.If you have power then your problem is in the t/s switch.To replace the switch remove the steering wheel , then the t/s lever, then the screws.The switch connecter is too big to pull up thru the column. Some guys cut and resplice the wires.This is butchery to me.Look at the mating end of the connecter.I draw a diagram of the wire pins and mark the wire colors. You'll see an insert in the connecter. Remove it then use a pocket screwdriver to unlock each wire.After the connecter body is off then I wrap the wires with a piece of tape and pull the switch out of the column.Installation is reverse order of removal.Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, Redcat. I didn't think of finding the t/s switch connecter and testing it separately. I'll do that next. You are a credit to this great forum.