'71 Headlight Wiring Trouble

[Coolerman]

IF turn signals are working then the rear chassis harness wiring is all correct. If you have a meter, verify that the GW wire coming from the brake to the turn signal switch has +12V when the brakes are applied. If it does then take the turn signal switch apart and verify that there is a jumper wire on the back of the PC board. This wire is what feeds the brake light signal to the two brake lights.
If it doesn't have +12V then start checking fuses and wiring for the brake light circuit. Don't rule out a bad brake light switch switch even if it is new!

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

IF turn signals are working then the rear chassis harness wiring is all correct. If you have a meter, verify that the GW wire coming from the brake to the turn signal switch has +12V when the brakes are applied. If it does then take the turn signal switch apart and verify that there is a jumper wire on the back of the PC board. This wire is what feeds the brake light signal to the two brake lights.
If it doesn't have +12V then start checking fuses and wiring for the brake light circuit. Don't rule out a bad brake light switch switch even if it is new!

Thanks--someone suggested hot-wiring the brake switch to see if the lights light. Is this wise (or will it just blow a fuse)?

 

[Coolerman]

You can unplug the brake light switch and jumper across the two female bullet connectors from the harness to see if the brakes light work. If they do: Bad Brake Light Switch.

If they don't then apply +12V to one of the harness side GW wires and try it, if nothing apply +12V to the other GW wire. One of them should get you brake lights IF the jumper is on your turn signal switch PC board as mentioned above.

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

Thanks all that replied--finally figured out the brake lights! I had spliced the front and rear turn signal wires together when I had had the '74 turn signal switch installed (due to trying to follow the color scheme for wiring), and I had just happened to have plugged them into the front connectors (there being two sets of GO and GY wires on the '69 switch), rather than the rear. Once I unspliced and got them connected correctly, the brake lights, turn signals, and parking lights all worked in sync.
Now, onto reverse lights...

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

Should I bother trying to fix/re-solder the connection wire on my brake light switch (which broke directly off due to long-term rust), or should I just get a new one (in case anyone has ever fixed one)?

 

[sggoat]

Should I bother trying to fix/re-solder the connection wire on my brake light switch (which broke directly off due to long-term rust), or should I just get a new one (in case anyone has ever fixed one)?

Had the same issue w/ my brake sw. Was able to resolder the connection-but got a new SW from BENO just in case my soldering skills weren't good--so far, the new sw is still in the box, just waiting----

 

[FWaltersnewbie]

Had the same issue w/ my brake sw. Was able to resolder the connection-but got a new SW from BENO just in case my soldering skills weren't good--so far, the new sw is still in the box, just waiting----

BENO? (been using SOR in my first year of rehabbing due to their discount)