Brake Lights

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68DartProject

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Hello to everyone that may be able to help me out.

I have a 72 Dart Swinger V8 AC CAR. The problem is this! I do not have brake lights. I will give a run down on what I have done and what does work.

Both front and back turn signals work, running lights work, tag light works. Head lights high and low beam works.

Now the stuff that doesn't work. Of course the brake lights don't. I put a new switch in. I even tried to just jump the two wires to see if they would come on and nothing. Replaced bulbs and the fuse under dash and nothing. The hazards and dash cluster do not work either.

Any help or even a diagram of which wires lead where would be a big help. I can live without cluster and hazard lights for a bit.
Need this pretty quick. Going to be a daily driver.

Thanks Michael
 
Hey Mike!

My initial thought was the flasher relay for your hazards, as all your other lights seemed good. Although that certainly has nothing to do with the dash cluster.

Is it just the lights in the cluster that are not working, and/or gauges (idiot lights) ?

I'm not much help, more so bumping you to top.

Good luck!

Giles
 
Come one Redfish you seam to be the Electrial wizered here.If anyone can solve it he can.Or offer great help.
 
You dont want to here the answer to no brake lights and if you're a bit hard headed you wont believe it till I prove it to you. anyway,
Here goes, replace the turn signal switch.
The brighter element in the rear 1157 bilbs serve as both brak light and turn light. A bad turn signal switch will interupt the brake light circuit.
Now you know.
 
On most cars, the brake switch will have a hot feed at all times. The brake switch then feeds into the turn signal switch and out to the back brake lights. The turn signal switch then interrupts which ever side needs flashed by feeding the bulb voltage through the flasher unit while also connecting the front turn signal bulb to the circuit while the turn signal lever is in the turn position. If you have turn signals but no brake lights, check the brake light switch for the proper hot feed on the wire not going to the turn signal switch. According to the wiring diagram, a pink wire should feed the brake switch and a white wire goes to the turn signal switch. The turn signal flasher should have a black and a red wire while the four way flasher has two pink wires going to it. The fuse that feeds the brake switch also feeds the back of the instrument panel but should not be the dash light circuit so I'm not sure what that does. Look for 2 pink wires that comes out of the fuse box, it should be the only fuse that has 2 pink wires coming from it, and check that one wire goes to the brake switch and the other runs up to the back of the instrument panel connector. Even if the fuse looks good, change it with a new one or check it with a meter to make sure it is good. Also check that you have a constant hot feed in the fuse box for that fuse.
Redfish may also be right in that the brake light feed is not making it through the turn signal switch in which case you need a new turn signal switch.
 
with the ignition switch of the brake light circuit is hot but very little else is. So... put a jumper across the brake light switch rather than hold the pedal down, the check with a test light.
You should find a off white wire feeding power up the column to the signal switch . If there is no power comming back down on green and yellow wires in same connecter... there's your sign :(
Signal switch is about 60.00 average and it takes half a tool box full of stuff to change it. Good luck
 
yeah. Thats why its so hard to convince the owner that the problem is the signal switch. Sometimes customers would get all upset about it.
"Wasn't anything wrong with my turn signals. Y'all are a bunch of ripoffs"
I've heard it all
 
I can attest to what Redfish is saying. When I first got my car I fixed the cancel cam. After that I didn't always have a right brake light and it turned out the turn signal switch was dirty. I cleaned the contacts up and it fixed the problem. Your switch is probably harder to work on than mine since I don't have 4 way flashers so it would be easier to replace the switch than try and fix it. Keep in mind the brake lights run through the turn switch and the actual flasher circuit is separate from the brake lights so you can have working turn signals and the switch can still be bad for the brake lights.
 
i myself is still waiting to install my switch.I had no brake lights or turn signals.I colud grab the leaver and loose it was I could move it all over.I tell ya the owner befor me was a HACK or did knot give a dam.Good luck 68 change that switch.
 
Hey Everyone

Wow thanks for all the insight. Man this 72 has been all messed up here this weekend. I think it is going to be the turn switch. A quick run down on what has happened the last few days.
Kind of funny if you ask me.

Took car into town with kids for a little joy ride. Since neither one had ever been in a classic muscle, we all had a blast. Got her to the shop and started to do a routine checkup. Changed oil, filter, plugs ect. Even did a compression check. Everything went as planned.
Got back in the car my son said, dad the interior light is working. We got out and checked for the brakes what you know THEY ARE ON. The flashers worked the and signals are still working. I think I will still pick up a switch cause you have to hold up on it to turn right to keep it on. But hey it was and is a learning experience for us all. As far as getting upset or thinking someone is just out to tell me wrong I know better. I worked in the auto parts for several of my young years. People do and will get upset about things like that due to mostly they don't want to tackle the job them selves.

Again Thanks To Everyone For The Help
Michael
 
This one lasted a few days and you have responses! WOW! What a concept....leave it up and replies come! Try it with your other posts and relax!
 
this is exactly the same problem I asked about in my thread and Redfish's explanation makes perfect sense . My problem go's away and then returns as well so I am definitely getting a new switch , thanks Redfish you da man =D> I have tried every other part of this circuit and would have never guessed it included the turn signal switch , anybody got a part # for it I also need a parking brake switch there is no spring left in mine
 
ok back up a step. The dome light , brake lights, hazard lights, horn, all share the same row in the fusebox. That row is hot at all times. If all those circuits go on and off together, you have a bad connection at the backside of the fusebox in supply wire to that row. Possibly water damage.
First disconnect the negative battery cable .
Only one screw to remove and lower the fusebox .
 
thanks again I'll try that first I was wiggling things around in that area trying to get the bulbs changed around my speedo so I could read it at night { I don't know why I don't really let it affect my driving } and kept dropping the sockets into that area and moving things to get them to drop out, still one in there somewhere, so I'll start there and follow the circuit back checking connections and I stand by my earlier statement "RedFish you da man " Thanks
 
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