63 wildcat brake lights don,t work

[drzack]

brake lights don't work.  tail and turn signals ok.  shorted across hydraulic switch on master cylinder, still no brake lights wires check ok with ohmeter.  what could it be?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KongaMan]

Bad turn signal switch, loose connection at the switch, or broken connection between the fuse block and the brake switch.

 

You should see 12V at the brake switch at all times.  That's the easiest thing to check.  Getting to the turn signal switch is more of a PITA, but you might try reaching up and making sure the connector is plugged in firmly.

Edited July 8, 2018 by KongaMan (see edit history)

[drzack]

thanks for info.  have any idea where to get proper switch or what the pat # is?

[telriv]

drzach,

 

  You DON'T have to worry about the signal switch for right now. Jumping a wire across the two terminals on the outside at the HYDRAULIC SWITCH should have turned on the brake lights. Was the ignition key on or off??? There should be 12 volts at one of the wires & crossing them together should have turned on the brake lights. We know it's not the bulbs as you said the signals work. if you have 12 volts at one of the wires then it's time to look at the signal light switch as the brake lights run through the switch, but ONLY when the handle is in the left or right position.

 

Tom T.

[KongaMan]

The brake lights have to go through the switch at all times, no?  IIRC, there are two circuits here (brake lights and signals) and two sets of contacts in the switch: one controls the brake lights, one controls the signals.  When the switch is in the center position (no signal), power is fed to both brake lights and the signaling circuit is disengaged.  When a signal is indicated, the contacts move, breaking the circuit to the brake light on the signaling side and completing the signaling circuit to that light.  Example: if you're signaling a right turn, only the left brake light is lit; the right light flashes. 

[telriv]

For all intent purposes that is what I said, but I think you explained it better.

[drzack]

thanks to both of you.  don't have power to brake switch so will take a look at fuse block since wiire shows continuity and fuse is ok.  will let all know what i find.  thanks again.

[KongaMan]

Not sure which wire you're referring to that shows continuity, but you might look at the firewall connector (both sides) to check for loose or corroded contacts or broken wires.  The turn signals and brake lights share the same fuse, but I don't remember where the splice is that connects them (fuse block?  firewall connector?).  As a sanity check, you might run a 12V jumper to the hydraulic switch just to make sure everything's good between there and the lights.