1959 tail light problems
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1959 tail light problems
Hi guys,
I have never posted before, but have gotten lots of useful help from reading other posts here. I have a 1959 styleside that I have owned since last spring. Most of that time the right brakelight has worked sometimes, and other times not. The turn signal has always worked, until last weekend. I took the tail light buckets out, cleaned all the connections and reinstalled both tail lights. now the problem is worse. Neither brake light works, although the left one does light up when headlights are on. But when I turn on either turn signal, both tailghts flash very dim, almost like emergency flashers. Any ideas on what I may have done to cause this would be greatly appreciated. Also, I can't find any fuses for the tailights, any ideas on that would be great too.
Thanks
I have never posted before, but have gotten lots of useful help from reading other posts here. I have a 1959 styleside that I have owned since last spring. Most of that time the right brakelight has worked sometimes, and other times not. The turn signal has always worked, until last weekend. I took the tail light buckets out, cleaned all the connections and reinstalled both tail lights. now the problem is worse. Neither brake light works, although the left one does light up when headlights are on. But when I turn on either turn signal, both tailghts flash very dim, almost like emergency flashers. Any ideas on what I may have done to cause this would be greatly appreciated. Also, I can't find any fuses for the tailights, any ideas on that would be great too.
Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 632
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From: North Carolina
I agree with these guys, it's a ground problem. If your tail lights are on and you brake or signal is applied the ground will not handle both tail and stop lights and will just blink the tail light. I worked at a gas station years ago and had a real head scratcher, one element of a turn signal/park light bulb was broken and laying across the other element, this thing about made us pull out hair out--swithched out that one bulb and all was well. Those danged electrons can make for some real head scratchers.
Good luck. Mike
Good luck. Mike
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thanks for your responses. Seems like a concensus, it must be the grounds. Now, this may seem like a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway. When I took out the headlights there is a short ground wire that goes between the headlight assembly and a screw, should the tailights have a similar ground? All I see is the two wires leading into the tailight. Is the ground somewhere under the bed? Thanks for all your help,
Jed
Jed
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 421
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From: Glendale, AZ
The taillights ground through the housing, thru bed to frame. You could add a wire from the bucket down to the frame to improve things or clean the bucket and where it mounts and that should take care of it. One quick test for grounds is to put a temporary jumper from a clean spot on the frame to the light housing to see if it works correctly with a good ground.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 231
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From: Meta, MO
I ran a new ground wire from the housings to the frame for each taillight.
That solved my problems.
I probably could have cleaned things up, but I figured this was a sure fire way to confirm grounding of the taillight circuit.
That solved my problems.
I probably could have cleaned things up, but I figured this was a sure fire way to confirm grounding of the taillight circuit.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: SoCal
Yeah, I have some lights on my box that had a lot of issues, I actually did exactly as you did, it is possible to hide the wires. I'd keep it as so, it's easy and guaranteed(ish) to work.
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Ok, I'm making progress. I cleaned the grounds, one light worked but not the other. I ran a wire from each light housing to the frame, and that helped. I have nice, bright turn signals, and tailights when headlights are on, but still no brake lights. Are there any other grounds to look for related to the brake lights?
Thanks for all your help, much appreciated,
Jed
Thanks for all your help, much appreciated,
Jed
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Check the brake light swtich before anything else. They are notorius for failing. I believe it smounted on the front of the master cylinder. Check to see if you have power going into the swith and then back out when the brakes are applied.
Bobby
Bobby
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Thanks for the tip bobby and birdman. I put my testlight on the wires from the brake light switch with the brake applied and the bulb didn't light. I will replace the switch next. Whats the easiest way to do this? I assume there will be a mess if I remove the switch from the cylinder without removing brake fluid first. Do I bleed the master cylinder until I can remove the switch without fluid coming out or do I remove cylinder from the firewall and drain before removing the signal?
Thanks for the help I'm 3/4 of the way there
Thanks for the help I'm 3/4 of the way there
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Texas
Should not be a problem as long as you do not press the pedal with the switch out. You will loose a little fluid but should get no air into the system. Just make a quick switch and top of the MC to replace any lost fluid.
Gil
Gil
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Comox Valley, Canada
Just a thought but did you check for 12 volts into the brake light switch? Or you could even remove the connector and jumper the two wires together.....the lights should come on if you have 12 volts and the bulbs and grounds are good.
That said I still bet on the switch, they are known for failing, just hate to see you buy one that isn't needed.
That said I still bet on the switch, they are known for failing, just hate to see you buy one that isn't needed.