Turn Signal and Brakelight issue.

Got a 60' Falcon with a 302 and C4 with an aftermarket tilt wheel. Signals and brake lights worked fine last year. Pull it out in April and the turn signals don't work. Checked the fuse and blinker and all is good. Even replaced the blinker. The other night I'm out and a guy tells me my brake light isn't working when my light are on, but they work when the lights are turned off. This the original harness, so whats up. Any Ideas?

 

Check your grounds on the lights...or check the light switch itself...sometimes dust and dirt get into them and prevent the lights from working. Is there a "fuse" on the switch itself ( I'm not up on Fords...)...

R-

 

It may be the original harness, but in that car all those things including the brake lights are IIRC wired through contacts in the turn-signal switch, and most of the 'fuses' in that circuit are circuit breakers in the headlight switch.

So...you say 'aftermarket tilt wheel' - does that mean aftermarket column and GM-type turn signal switch too? Who did the wiring?

Have you grabbed the wiring diagram and a multimeter and checked for continuity between the proper pins at the column connector?

Have you checked for proper voltages on the other side of the connector through the various positions of the headlight switch?

That's where I'd be going.

 

If it's an original harness adapted to the newer tilt, maybe there are some broken or shorted wires which is what JEM is having you look for. Older wiring could be brittle and the movement of the tilt could stretch (wer on an edge) or break wires.

 

The fact that the brake/turn element works when the lights are off; but not when they are on indicates there is a ground problem with at least that light.

When the lights are off the brake/turn element can ground thru the tail light element with the final ground somewhere else in that tail light circuit.

When the lights are on the tail light circuit is hot and won't act as a ground anymore.

I'd start with the bulb sockets and their grounds.

 

Yep time for the voltmeter if they were working when you put Her up and now not I would start with the ground