Tail light woes

[Celt69]

Hi all! Lots of good info here, been lurking for some time. Sorry for the long post on what seems to be a common issue albeit with different twists. Recently purchased a '67 GTX clone and been sorting through previous "fixes". One that has me still stumped is the left year tail, brake and signal light. It was working intermittently and has since quit. New bulb, socket and some wiring (have a new rear harness on order). If I ground the socket I get tail but no signal or brake. All other lights work in the car. I just received a new turn signal switch today but need to figure out how big of a job for my ham hands that will be. My hope is to at least get it working while waiting for the rear harness so I can get my son out and away from the video games ( he LOVES the car)

 

[terzmo]

I would first check to see if the power for the faulty portion is getting to the connector. A simple power trouble light can pierce the wire before the connector. Ground should be established for the light once it's set in the taillight. An ohm meter can verify that.

To change the switch,steering wheel must be removed.

 

[Lionized]

Do your four ways work?

 

[Celt69]

They did Lionized but honestly have not checked recently, I will do that once I am back home. I have been so fixated on getting brake and signal that I have ignored the 4 ways. The actual switch on the dash seems to be fubar, moves almost in "circles" rather than an "off/on" movement. I suspect I will need to replace that ASAP as well. If I have 4 ways (no drivers brake, tail or signal) what would that suggest? I need to get home and get in the garage to check

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Terzmo, I will give that a try as soon as back home on Friday from work trip. Turn signals don't self cancel so I am reasonably confident the TS switch may have more issues than just that. I just need to get a good look at a schematic of the steering column and get in the car to establish where all those connectors from the switch plug into the harness. Hopefully something that is not too obnoxious to tackle.

 

[Lionized]

Process of elimination.
If your four ways work, you have a good ground, the bulb is good and so would be your four way flasher. There are two flashers, one for four ways, the other for turn signals.

I'm guessing your passenger brake and signal light work? Do you have a Factory Service Manual for the car? All your schematics will be in there...plus a plethora of valuable information.

 

[Celt69]

Just got home and had a quick look, NOTHING on the drivers rear works (brake, TS or 4 ways) and the TS indicator on the dash does not work for driver's side. No TS on driver's front and everything works on passenger side front and back. Using a power trouble light I have power to one terminal in the light socket with the key ON, but not enough to light the bulb. If I run a ground to the light socket with the bulb inserted I get a slight glow on the lower of the two filaments. If I turn on the key with the bulb socket grounded I get the upper filament lights brightly (assuming this is the brake filament).

Process of elimination.
If your four ways work, you have a good ground, the bulb is good and so would be your four way flasher. There are two flashers, one for four ways, the other for turn signals.

I'm guessing your passenger brake and signal light work? Do you have a Factory Service Manual for the car? All your schematics will be in there...plus a plethora of valuable information.

 

[Gpuller]

Turn signal switch?

 

[Celt69]

Turn signal switch?

I thinks so Gpuller, I have one here and thinking it can't hurt to go in and replace. I used to have driver's front TS but don't have that or even the dash indication now.

 

[Celt69]

Not claiming to have a good grasp of the electrical diagrams but I downloaded both the 1966 and 1968 service manuals (couldn't find the 1967 for some reason) and while looking at 1968 schematics it would appear to my novice electrical skills that the wiper motor circuit ALSO has some connection to the TS switch? If I am correct (and likely I am not) I would have another smoking gun pointing to the TS switch as the wiper motor won't seem to shut off or park completely all the time (have them parked now and just disconnected power to them). Am I correct here?

 

[Celt69]

Looking to swap my new TS switch in and found two things upon further examination: the new switch terminates in the metal clips (brass)? that would plug into the connector. I disconnected the the white plastic connector under the steering column but will have to remove the old wires/clips from the connector before fishing through the steering column. Apologies for the simplistic question but how do I do that without messing up the white plastic connector? The second thing is the new switch (M&H from YearOne - 67-69A body and 67-69B body) has only seven wires while the old harness has eight that includes an orange wire that my new switch does not have. What is the orange wire for?

 

[Shorthorse]

I've been reading your post. I'm trying to figure out, did you get the regular running light to work properly?

 

[Celt69]

I've been reading your post. I'm trying to figure out, did you get the regular running light to work properly?

I have no lights on drivers side except for headlight Shorthorse.

 

[Shorthorse]

Keep it simple. You've got issues that involve two completely different, independent circuits and components with one exception, the ground. Get the running light element working first. That circuit does not go through the steering column or flasher. It originates on the "R" terminal (black wire) of the headlight switch, goes to the connector (pin 2) behind the kick panel. In the rear, the black wire is common to both running light elements and the license plate light.

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1967/67BelvedereA.JPG
http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1967/67BelvedereB.JPG

 

[furyus]

I just did the turn signal switch on my Dart, and I think the orange wire is for the light on the column shift indicator.

 

[Shorthorse]

I just did the turn signal switch on my Dart, and I think the orange wire is for the light on the column shift indicator.

Different animal -
On the 67 B-body
Light Green from the directional signal switch connector pin 1 goes to the flasher, left turn indicator of the dash plug and to the front turn signal lamp elements via the bulkhead connector #3 pin "S".
Dark Green from the directional signal switch connector pin 6 goes to connector behind the kick panel pin 3 to the left rear signal/brake element.

 

[Celt69]

I just did the turn signal switch on my Dart, and I think the orange wire is for the light on the column shift indicator.

That is what I am finding through my digging too furyus, seems to be correct. I just hope dash lights are not on that wire as well! Not sure why the new harness does not have an orange wire?

 

[Shorthorse]

That is what I am finding through my digging too furyus, seems to be correct. I just hope dash lights are not on that wire as well! Not sure why the new harness does not have an orange wire?

According to the original wiring diagram, there is an orange wire on pin 5 of the directional signal switch connector. It is common to the radio light, the middle pins of both dash cluster connectors (instrument lights) and pin 3 of the optional console connector. If you have/had a column shifter, it's probably for the light that illuminates the level indicator.

 

[Celt69]

According to the original wiring diagram, there is an orange wire on pin 5 of the directional signal switch connector. It is common to the radio light, the middle pins of both dash cluster connectors (instrument lights) and pin 3 of the optional console connector. If you have/had a column shifter, it's probably for the light that illuminates the level indicator.

Car originally had a column shifter, I am sure you are correct Shorthorse!

 

[Celt69]

and there was light(s)!!

Well, changed the TS switch and now have happy, functioning tails, brakes and TS on both sides!!


Thank you everyone for the help and ideas, much appreciated!


PS. the orange lead was for a column shift indicator light!

 

[Celt69]

Update, now have self cancelling signals, functioning brake lights but with car RUNNING tail lights illuminate, although left rear is brighter (maybe brake filament lighting up or maybe brighter due to new socket on that side). Not a huge problem as I still get brake lights and both signals so I am drivable. The rear harness has been hacked into by the previous owner and I have a new replacement on order from YearOne but I am thinking I still have ground issues somewhere on the car. Perhaps the bulkhead connector may be another possible problem spot besides ground issues? As the car is now drivable I am happy but the OCD in me needs me to figure this one out!