Brake lights stopped working

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B Taylor

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My brake lights stopped working. They worked fine last time I had the car out.
I have checked the switch and it is working, I have power from the dual pink wires and when depressed I have power on the other side of switch (white wire) .
From that point I don't have power to the bulbs. Tail lights work, turn signals work.
I looked at the wiring diagram and know the power goes from the white into the Directional signal switch connector then to a Dark green wire to the brake lights.
Anyone have experience with this? Is there a connection in the directional switch that may cause the brake lights not to work?
 
B Taylor said:
My brake lights stopped working. They worked fine last time I had the car out.
I have checked the switch and it is working, I have power from the dual pink wires and when depressed I have power on the other side of switch (white wire) .
From that point I don't have power to the bulbs. Tail lights work, turn signals work.
I looked at the wiring diagram and know the power goes from the white into the Directional signal switch connector then to a Dark green wire to the brake lights.
Anyone have experience with this? Is there a connection in the directional switch that may cause the brake lights not to work?
Click to expand...
Look up under dash where the arm is at on the brake pedal and see the switch is hitting the brake arm.

100E6005.JPG
 
If you are getting power FROM the switch TO the TS switch (I think it's the white wire) then your TS switch is bad.

What are we working on, here? I've tried to borrow Rusty's crystal ball, but he is unable to find it.

If this is a later model with the hazard sw. in the column the contacts in there are a probable cause. In the early seventies, before Al Gore invented the internet, I "fixed" (made workable) 3 or 4 cars by moving some wiring around but disabling the hazard switch.
 
enough chit chat
 
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Problem is most likely the T/S switch. Attach your test lite to the brake lite exit wire and wiggle the T/S lever to see if you can get a momentary light.
 
The switch is my issue, I have already talked to Dan about ordering one of the ones he carries that are a direct replacement.
Thanks again for the sounding board here, it keeps us driving.
 
Okay with all the testing and consulting with A body gurus I bought and installed a new turn signal switch.
I still have no brake lights and I am out of ideas..............any help of what to test or where?????
I have power to the switch, it does energize when the switch is depressed and sends power out. From that point???????????
I have replaced the bulbs too
 
May be a bad switch. "New" does not mean "good."

Access the left kick panel and get into the connector which feeds back to the tail. Get your wiring diagram and identify the wiring. That way you can probe that while you are manipulating the switch.

With the switch centered, first double check that you are getting switched brake light power from the brake light switch TO the TS switch, check this right at the TS switch connector

Then move your meter to the left and right TS / stop light wires in the left kick panel. You can confirm right after taking a reading by actuating the TS switch/ key on and confirm you have the TS working.
 
What exactly (make model year) are we working on, here?
 
1965 Dodge Dart GT 225 At PS PB with 123K miles.

We had a sudden miracle with the lights. After running a test probe on every wire the brake lights started working. Maybe a loose contact somewhere but they work and I have a nice working cancel cam to boot.
 
B Taylor said:
1965 Dodge Dart GT 225 At PS PB with 123K miles.

We had a sudden miracle with the lights. After running a test probe on every wire the brake lights started working. Maybe a loose contact somewhere but they work and I have a nice working cancel cam to boot.
Click to expand...

I just found this thread and was hoping for an update- did your brake lights continue to work or did you find another cause?

Yep. My '73 showed the same spontaneous symptoms on my way home late last night. Looking forward to another weekend of poking through half-century old wiring...so any of your findings would be appreciated.
 
Sorry for not updating. After all the wire chasing and replacing the turn signal switch the problem continued. Sometimes working other time s not. The cause was a broken wire right by the brake light switch. It would work if I was down there testing because I was touch the wire but not when I would move away. Wire casing was good but I could tell a previous owner had replaced the jumper wire (with cheap wire).
 
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