Frustration with brake/tail lights in my 64 DeVille.

[BadBoyRipper]

What's up all?! I haven't posted in a while and need some help. I thought that I had this little problem figured out, however, it seems that I have quite got it.

The brake and tail lights used to work, now they don't. My fuses in the panel are all good, and the strange thing is that all the bulbs in my blinkers work. I get no power from the main connector that is located at the front left trunk. I don't see any other connection in between that and the fuse panel, and am totally lost. It doesn't matter if my lights are on or not, I get nothing with my tail or brake lights.

Why would my blinkers work, but not my tail or brake lights? What am I missing?

Thanks in advance.

Brandon

[VOODOO64]

I would check the conections on the brake light switch down by the brake pedal. You may have a bad connection or the switch itself maybe faulty. Hope that helps

[JAG56Cad]

Brandon,

Ditto from VOODOO64 comments..!

The brake lights power is independent from the turn signal; the only common path is the wiring from the turn signal switch up to the light sockets.

The wiring diagram shows from the fuse panel BRN-WHT wire goes to the stop light switch, the white from the stop light switch goes up to the directional signal switch connector.
Check the voltage on this path first up to the directional switch, if everything is fine up to here most likely there is a problem with the directional switch.

The tail lights are feed from the light switch via the “dark green” on the hardness up to the connector and the tail light are all spliced together. This same path powers your “ign light” and both L & R ashtray lights.

Hope this helps..!

[chris67cad]

I had a very similar issue with my '67 - I'm still in the process of fixing it.

The turn signal switch sends power to both brake lights unless you are indicating one way or the other. My turn signals and tail lights worked - brakes didn't.

There was a broken wire inside the turn signal switch.

[Rhino]

This can get tricky, unfortunately. If you are sure there is no power at the connector in the trunk I would look at the fuse box itself, not just the fuse. You said the fuse is good for the brake lights, but is there power on both sides of the fuse? You may have a broken wire on the back of the fuse box. Not likely? That's what I just fixed in a Bonneville. All GM full size are pretty close in the wiring department because of the cost savings to GM.
Also check the power on both sides of the turn signal fuse. Again, the fuse box may have trouble.
No, you don't have to replace the fuse box, you can usually fix it with a jumper or some other simple repair.

[BadBoyRipper]

Thanks for the advice guys. I actually ended up getting so frustrated, I just re wired the entire fuse block, and EVERYTHING actually works so much better. It was more involved than I wanted to get, but well worth it. Now my ride is at the drive line shop having the drive line balanced and rebuilt. More parts coming.......

Brandon

[silentpoet]

Thanks for the advice guys. I actually ended up getting so frustrated, I just re wired the entire fuse block, and EVERYTHING actually works so much better. It was more involved than I wanted to get, but well worth it. Now my ride is at the drive line shop having the drive line balanced and rebuilt. More parts coming.......

Brandon

Honestly I am considering a complete harness redo on my 68. There are so many little issues that I think a complete wiring harness replacement might be easier.