Electrical 101 - no brake lamps/no signal

[R N.]

Hello Everyone,

Good day to all. I'm needing not so much help here as I believe I've sorted my problem, but really looking for the why.

The other day I changed the stop/turn rear lamps on my '66 from # 2057 bulbs to the # 1157 bulbs and had driven the car a few times but didn't realize I had no stop lamps or signals. I sorted the signal lamps by changing the flasher. So I have working back-up lamps and rear turn signal lamps and running lamps with the headlamps on.

At first I thought it was the change of bulbs that caused my problem, but quickly ruled that out once I got the signal flasher changed. I then turned to the brake switch up under the dash and a continuity test confirmed it was working, but still no brake lamps.

So I took a new brake switch, tested it like I did with the one in the car and it too was working, so I unplugged the orange and white wires from the switch in the car and plugged the connectors into the new switch and BINGO, brake lamps! So it would seem I have a faulty brake lamp switch.

I haven't gone to the trouble of switching out the brake lamp switch as I am really curious to the why would the switch in the car not work while it tested OK?

I tested the brake lamp switches with my electric meter the same way you check a fuse - did I miss something???

And whilst on the subject of brake switches, which is most correct from a judging perspective - white plastic or metal? (VIN 17,534 - March 1966)

Thanks in advance for furthering my electrical knowledge.

[Donald O.]

Re: Electrical 101 - no brake lamps/no signal

Kurt,
Sounds like you jiggled the rear body connector and put the brake lights pin back into a connection.
DonO

[R N.]

Re: Electrical 101 - no brake lamps/no signal

Hi Don,

I'm thinking its the brake switch because it works with a new switch every-time I plug it in, with the existing switch I cannot get it to work reliably (only managed to get it working once in many, many, many attemps. Yet the existing switch tests OK every-time

[Timothy B.]

Re: Electrical 101 - no brake lamps/no signal

Kurt,

There is probably corrosion in the contacts somewhere causing the intermittent operation. Make sure the white and orange wires look clean and make good contact with the switch.

[R N.]

Re: Electrical 101 - no brake lamps/no signal

Hi Tim,

I believe this may be the problem as the orange/white wire connectors are sloppy when installed as compared to the new switch the connection feels tighter.