Tail light gremlin

[harrytoes]

So I'm chasing electrical issues on my 68 fastback. I have no tail lights when headlights are turned on. No turn signals as well. Brake light works on the right hand unless I have the turn signal in the left position then the brake light works on left side only. Flashers only work on the right hand side. Unless I have the turn signal turning left, both flashers will work.

I have very good ground all throughout the car. Thinking it has something to do with the turn signal switch. Any ideas?

 

[Dana67Dart]

Switch is likely.

Have you removed or disconnected any wiring on the front of the car?

I was replacing a fender and had the grill out.

Turn signals stopped working and other odd things happened.

 

[nutz]

sound like two problems ..think head light switch and turn switch
start at fuse box did you try to roll your fuses

 

[harrytoes]

Do I need to remove the steering wheel to change the turn signal switch

 

[67Dart273]

Tail lights have nothing to do with stop/ turn. With the troubles you described, I would do the following:

1..Jumper a wire across the signal flasher
2..Pull the left kick panel and access the connector feeding the rear harness
3..Probe both the TS switch connector at the column and the kick panel connector to determine what all you do and do not have

I agree that the TS problem sounds like TS switch

You don't have a service manual?? Go to MyMopar.com, many, many of them there, free. You may have to settle for Plymouth vs Dodge

 

[Dana67Dart]

Do I need to remove the steering wheel to change the turn signal switch

If that's the problem , yes

 

[AJ/FormS]

Before you waste a lotta time, Check the rear ground strap. It's in the trunk close to the latch.
Check it for continuity to the chassis.
Then check from the chassis to the sockets and make sure ALL the bulbs are correct and installed correctly, and all the bulbs work as designed.
All means rear and front.
After that
if the problem still has not appeared, I think I'd be taking the signal switch apart, and digging the contacts out of the melted nylon channels.

 

[nutz]

Before you waste a lotta time, Check the rear ground strap. It's in the trunk close to the latch.
Check it for continuity to the chassis.
Then check from the chassis to the sockets and make sure ALL the bulbs are correct and installed correctly, and all the bulbs work as designed.
All means rear and front.
After that
if the problem still has not appeared, I think I'd be taking the signal switch apart, and digging the contacts out of the melted nylon channels.

yes could be a 1156 in a 1157 socket (single filament in a dual socket...)

 

[Mattax]

This will help with diagnoses

Master Technician Service Conference - Chrysler's Training for Mechanics

The Imperial Mailing List Online Car Club is dedicated to the preservation, appreciation and restoration of Imperials and Chrysler Imperials of all years, models and body-styles.

www.web.imperialclub.info

1967 Accessories Circuits (#236)

On your model the parking lights and and tail lights share the tail light terminal on the headlights switch.
In other words, with one click out and two clicks out (headlights on) position all of the marker lights should be on.

The only relation between the turn/stop circuits and the park/tail light circuit is the bulbs share a ground.
Always worth checking the bulbs are correct type and positioned properly in their sockets.
If a ground is not available for any bulb, the electricity will find another route to complete the circuit even if it has some resistance (like the other filiment and another bulb)


If you want to check the turn signal switch itself, disconnect at the connector, then check for continuity and write down what you find. Using the '67 turn signal switch diagram as an example:

With the switch in the left turn position:
Position 2, Power from flasher, to
1 continuity
3 no
5 no
6 continuity
7 no
8 continuity

Position 7, Power from Brake switch to:
1 no, 2 no, 3 no, 4 no, 5 no, 6 no,
8 continuity

 

[nutz]

Funny I know how it works and can read diagram s but that top one looks crazy

 

[Mattax]

It's a schematic out of that MTSC booklet.
I agree the depiction is not immediately clear as to what part is the moving switch.
The copper color represents the contacts. Did that for myself and to help someone in a previous thread.

When the turn lever is moved, the contacts slide up or down, connecting power from the turn signal flasher to one side, and disconnecting the power from the brake light to that same side.

Including the connection through the hazard switch can be helpful when the hazzards work and other things don't.
edit: I've taken it out of the drawing. It's hooked in a little differently on the '68. See next post.

 

[Mattax]

if the brake is applied, on the schematic the electric current should follow these paths.

Parking lights on with brake applied.

The details of how the haz switch wires tie in wit hthe brake circuit vary somewhat from year to year.
Lets see what '68 Barracuda shows in the FSM. Or in this case the pdf version done by one of the guys here.

With a little cut and paste to connect the circuits

So we see that the power to the stop lamp switch has nothing to do with the emergency flasher other than the junction.
This is why brakes on will overide the flasher.

Edited the two schematics to remove the e-flasher since it doesn't apply, at least with 1967 and 68