No brake lights on one side, but have both sides have turn signals?

[madmike]

Looking for some help...this baffled me for several hours yesterday!  At a traffic light, someone told me that my brake lights weren't working on the passenger side.  68 Charger, new Year One cabin harness.  All of the turn signals and running lights work as they should, but I have no passenger side rear brake lights, nor emergency flasher.  The bulbs are good (they work when turn signals are used), so the grounds must be good as well.  Here's what I tested:

Driver side:
Test light against black wire showed on when running lights turned on,
Test light against green wire showed on when brake pedal pushed,
Test light against green wire showed on when turn signal activated.

Passenger side:
Test light against black wire showed on when running lights turned on,
Test light against brown wire showed OFF when brake pedal pushed (and no brake light either),
Test light against brown wire showed on when turn signal activated.

I also did the same test at the five prong plug, behind the driver side kick panel, and got the same results, which tells me the issue is not in the taillight wiring harness, but probably in the dash harness.  When I initially assembled the car, everything electrical worked correctly.  There are no blown fuses.

In my opinion, the brown wire should be hot when the turn signals are used (it is) and when the brakes are pushed (it is not).  What am I missing here, and what should I test for next?  Appreciate any help!!

Mike

[Dino]

I bet you it's the turn signal switch, mine did the same but it was ds brake light that was out.

There are copper contacts in the switch (behind the cancel cam) that wear out.  You probably have a good amount of play on the turn signal lever.

Try this:  have someone stand behind the car while you apply the brakes.  Play with the turn signal lever and see if the ps brake light comes on.  If it does, you need a new switch.  I got mine from megaparts.  $50 with the cam installed.

[Dmichels]

yes as Dino said
you need a new turn signal switch
I chaced this problem before.
just buy and replace
dave

[A383Wing]

X3....you need a turn signal switch inside the column

[madmike]

That's pretty much what I thought, and had narrowed it down to as well, I guess I just wanted a 'feel good' feeling that I was on the right track...

I also have a worn out plastic plug on the end of the turn signal switch wiring, that plugs into the main dash harness.  The wires that go into the plug, aren't retained by the plug very well.  But, I did wiggle the turn signal lever, and both brake lights came on.

Thanks, Fellerz!

[Dino]

That's pretty much what I thought, and had narrowed it down to as well, I guess I just wanted a 'feel good' feeling that I was on the right track...

I also have a worn out plastic plug on the end of the turn signal switch wiring, that plugs into the main dash harness.  The wires that go into the plug, aren't retained by the plug very well.  But, I did wiggle the turn signal lever, and both brake lights came on.

Thanks, Fellerz!

If I recall...the switch/cam assembly does not come with the harness connector.  You have to remove the old metal wiring connectors and insert the new so if the connector is too beat up try to find another first or plan to hook them up in a different manner.

[cjw916]

It's definatly your blinker switch. As the guys said, the wires on the backside of the cancel cam make contact with the stationary brass looking pins behind them. I had the exact same sypmtoms as you did, replaced the cam with a $15 SM9 cam, I bent the wires off the cam just a bit, so they'd make better contact, and I trimmed the plastic tabs (just a bit) that keep the cam spaced away from the rear assembly, and both brake lamps (and blinkers) on my '68 work great. . .

[cjw916]

Thanks for the MegaParts reference, Dino! I've been looking for the blinker base w/ wiring harness for quite some time! Mine is worn from 45 years use & I just knew someone must be making it, but I could only find the blinker cancel cam! Ordered one just now!

Thanks again Dino!

Charger forum to the rescue, again!

[nascarxx29]

   :Twocents:Ive seen where with the key off and turn signal arm not in the center position.Resulted in only one brakelight