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  • Anders
    Super-Experienced
    • Jan 19 2008
    • 2213

    Brake lights

    Hi again guys,
    Need some advice how to make my brake lights work.
    The real light works. So does the indicators, and I beleve this is the same bulb as the brake. Even the "back-up lights" work.

    On the front of the brake cylinder, there is two wires connected. But they kind of disapear inte the firewall together with plenty of other wires, so to find out witch one it is from the inside, seems quite tough...
    sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
    http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158
  • GTE427
    Super-Experienced
    • Oct 9 2007
    • 602

    #2
    Search this site as others have posted copies or links to wiring diagrams. I printed one from the tocmp.com website for the 59 TBird. This diagram shows the wire colors, the brake switch and a brake switch relay. Also shown is the connections to the headlight switch and the turn signal switch. Believe this site includes the 58 diagram as well.

    This diagram isn't complete for all acessories, but does cover the stop light circuit.
    Ken
    1959 J Convertible
    1960 J Hardtop

    Comment

    • ncbird
      Experienced
      • Jan 5 2008
      • 390

      #3
      brake light switch

      Anders have you checked the wires at the brake light switch to see if you have power? Just pull the wires off the switch at the master cylinder and with a test light check both wires to see if you have power. The one with the 12 volts on it will be the one from the inside and the other goes to the lights. If you do have power short between the two wires and see if the brake lights work. If they do you probably have a bad brake light switch. If you dont have power there then you know you either have a fuse problem or something else keeping you from getting 12 volts to the switch. If you have power and shorting them does not make the brake iights work then you have an open between the switch and the rear of the car and you know the color of the wire you are hunting. Hope this a little help. Grant

      PS make sure you have the ignition on....seen that slow up some trouble shooting...LOL
      Last edited by ncbird; April 7, 2008, 03:09 PM.
      Grant
      NCbird on the Coast of NC
      "Dads Bird" for my father

      Comment

      • LuckyJay
        • Jan 4 2007
        • 234

        #4
        If you do not have 12V at the stop light switch as previously described, then most likely the fuse is blown. It is under the dash near the ignition and headlight switches. I think it is a 14 amp in line fuse. It is not uncommon for the stop light fuse to short to ground internally and pop the fuse. I wasted 2 fuses figuring that out. So you could check the stop light switch for continuity to ground before hand. If so, replace the stop switch as well.

        Comment

        • Anders
          Super-Experienced
          • Jan 19 2008
          • 2213

          #5
          Red alert

          I picked up the diagram from www.tocmp.com web, and tryed to find my routs with adding some colour to it.
          But I am just getting more confused as the ī58 have a different wire diagram than the ī59&ī60.
          Early models, as shown here , have stoplights on all lamps ( Nice! ), but I donīt have that.
          So I canīt follow these as my stop-ligt-switch have 2 green cables, but I canīt figure out how they are connected to the rear lamps. Here, they continue through the switch and change colour to Yellow and Red.
          Attached Files
          Last edited by Anders; April 15, 2008, 08:28 AM.
          sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
          http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

          Comment

          • GTE427
            Super-Experienced
            • Oct 9 2007
            • 602

            #6
            From what you wrote, I'd guess that one green wire is (+) from the headlight or turn signal switch, the second green runs to the tail lights. Judging from the diagram and how your car is wired, your car doesn't have the brake light relay. If you look at the diagram, it states how to bypass the relay by cutting and splicing wires, possible some cars weren't so equipped .

            With a volt meter, check for voltage at one of the green wires, if good, jumper from that wire to the second green and the lights should be lit. If not, switch is bad. Not sure if the brake-light circuit runs thru the ignition switch (thinking not), so consider this when testing for voltage and also try with ignition switch set to run.

            If no voltage is at either wire, find a 12+ volt supply on the car (battery terminal is easy) and touch to either wire. Hopefully one wire will lite the brake lights. The other is from the dash switch and is the problem.

            If all fails, time for an ohm-meter or start checking grounds. Maybe critters chewed some wires.
            Ken
            1959 J Convertible
            1960 J Hardtop

            Comment

            • Anders
              Super-Experienced
              • Jan 19 2008
              • 2213

              #7
              Back from work, I dived deep down and found out that I have the wireing from the "inner" rear lights ( green / orange & Orange / blue ) as well as from the "outer" ( Green ) , and they disapear into the car, through the center consol. But then they took a route that I canīt follow as I canīt get my head up behind the brake pedal and the dash.... So, I canīt see whatīs conected, and where....
              Looking at the diagram, I canīt see that there is any fuse involved here either, so Iīm frustrated as h*ll.
              Donīt realy know how the "Directional signal switch" look like either, so Itīs tough to sort this out.
              Would be nice to know how the "Stop relay" on the "first cars" look like as well, and where that little bastard should be, if, it might be there, somewhere.....
              Last edited by Anders; April 15, 2008, 12:10 PM.
              sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
              http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

              Comment

              • Guest

                #8
                Is what this diagram shows is the stoplights are triggered from 2 different fuses.1 constant hot(from the light switch) and 1 from( key on) the turn signals that override the stoplights(outboard) to turn right or left.The relay recieves both signals and dosent cross the circuits(so it wont backfeed).
                The relay needs to stay in place or you can splice your colum feeder into the yellow from the ignition(this will make your colum/turn signals constant hot) or splice your brake switch to the blue feeder(making inboard brakes lts. w/key on).
                The best solution is to install a 2 to 1 relay. 1ckt.from the turn signal common and 1 from the brake switch.
                Originally posted by Anders Myrberg
                I picked up the diagram from www.tocmp.com web, and tryed to find my routs with adding some colour to it.
                But I am just getting more confused as the ī58 have a different wire diagram than the ī59&ī60.
                Early models, as shown here , have stoplights on all lamps ( Nice! ), but I donīt have that.
                So I canīt follow these as my stop-ligt-switch have 2 green cables, but I canīt figure out how they are connected to the rear lamps. Here, they continue through the switch and change colour to Yellow and Red.

                Comment

                • Anders
                  Super-Experienced
                  • Jan 19 2008
                  • 2213

                  #9
                  I found 2 fuses under the dash. Booth are OK. One was found in a black holder, with a VERY hard spring. I was happy when I manage to get it back. The other fuse was in a "clear" plasic holder.
                  Laying down under the dash, on my back, trying to see and reach things, is something like bending a ball.....
                  My English is realy starting to give me problems when we heading technical items, and to make thing worse, I am on the limit to be stupid when it comes to Electric stuff in the first place....
                  Last edited by Anders; April 15, 2008, 12:49 PM.
                  sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
                  http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

                  Comment

                  • GTE427
                    Super-Experienced
                    • Oct 9 2007
                    • 602

                    #10
                    The turn signal switch is in the steering column, at the base of the column you'll see several 'bullet connectors', these are the connectors for the turn signals and horn in the column. Looking at the colorized diagram you attached, notice the seven rectangles above the turn signal switch, those are the bullet connectors I'm refering to.

                    Test the brake switch first, it's the easiest device in he circuit to access, once that's ruled out you can look under the dash. Wish I could direct you to the relay as that would be the next device to check before tracing the wiring.

                    I've seen several dash wiring harnesses and they've become very brittle, handle this harness as little as possible, it's fragile. i've also broken the bullet connectors as they don't want to pull apart after all these years. Use caution.

                    I'd be interested to know where the brake light relay is located also, anyone else locate this yet?
                    Ken
                    1959 J Convertible
                    1960 J Hardtop

                    Comment

                    • Guest

                      #11
                      You do know that there are 2 exposed fuses behind the light switch.1 constant hot and 1 hot with the key.
                      These are in addition to the two link fuses you found.
                      You really have to bend the ball to see 'em!

                      Comment

                      • Anders
                        Super-Experienced
                        • Jan 19 2008
                        • 2213

                        #12
                        I beleve the Brake Switch is fine. When I connect my test-istrument, and adjust it into Ohm, and hold one line on each conector on the switch, the instrument change numbers when someone is pressing the brake pedal.

                        Used this evening to take out the fuel tank, as I have a "sweating issue" around the fuel line conector. I found a guy who know how to solve stuff like this. Heīs good, and cheep

                        Will dive deep down in the dash during the weekend to find these two missing fuses. Stay tuned.
                        sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
                        http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

                        Comment

                        • LuckyJay
                          • Jan 4 2007
                          • 234

                          #13
                          See if you have 12 volts on one side of the stop light switch all the time when the key is on. And 12volts on the other side of the switch only when the brakes are applied. Also, see if there is no continuity from either side of the stop light switch to the case of the switch. My switch shorted internally and blew the fuse up under the dash. My fuse was a 14 amp SFE in the 60 Tbird not sure what the 58 should have. Wish I were in Sweden to help you. Pay my way and I'll fix it for you. tee hee.

                          Comment

                          • Anders
                            Super-Experienced
                            • Jan 19 2008
                            • 2213

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Wildcat15
                            See if you have 12 volts on one side of the stop light switch all the time when the key is on. And 12volts on the other side of the switch only when the brakes are applied. Also, see if there is no continuity from either side of the stop light switch to the case of the switch. My switch shorted internally and blew the fuse up under the dash. My fuse was a 14 amp SFE in the 60 Tbird not sure what the 58 should have. Wish I were in Sweden to help you. Pay my way and I'll fix it for you. tee hee.
                            I might do that

                            Letf my tank to the "specialist" this morning also. Didnīt even arrived back to work until he called me and said he blowed the tank....
                            Yesterday was a better day than this....
                            sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
                            http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

                            Comment

                            • Petrolhead
                              Experienced
                              • Jul 2 2007
                              • 403

                              #15
                              Lucky him and not you Anders, at least you might get a brand new tank out of it? The time it will take to get one shipped to you might be a hassle though?
                              Cheers

                              Alistair

                              Comment

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