[Bill66]

I have a problem with my left tail lights. normally when i press the brakes only one light bulb comes on the one furthest to the right( there are 3 separate bulbs). When I have my lights on all 3 bulbs come on but the 2 furthest to the left are bright like the brakes are depressed. Anyone have any answers, I don't want to throw money on a new harness until I figure out what's wrong? Thanks any help would be appreciated.

[tigergto]

I would start by checking the grounds. If you have access to a wiring schematic that would make it a lot easier.

[Pepi]

Are the bulbs in the correct way? I have seen them put in backwards and the bright goes on with the headlights/tail lights.

[Goathead66]

Probably cheap China bulbs that are in wrong-- the pins on the side that are in two different locations on the China bulbs makes it easy to put them in wrong-- or they're in wrong and you have two bad elements-- they are dual element bulbs- a bright and a dim, it's not a ground problem or they wouldn't light at all

[tigergto]

Let me clarify my statement. By stating bad I was referring to a weak ground. The lights may still illuminate but not properly. Most lighting issues I've had with vehicles and trailers were due to grounding problems.

[Bill66]

Thanks for your help, I'm going to start with the easiest thing, the bulbs and go from there. I appreciate your insight.

[Chris65LeMans]

As has been stated, check "are the bulbs in backwards?" first. If not, I'd take a look at the pigtails. (the electrical connections inside the sockets.)

[AdamIsAdam]

How does one know if the bulls are in backwards?

Also, on my 64, according the schematics, the middle bulb is properly wired for parking light use only, it's a brake, but I noticed the catalogs call for the same 1157 dual element bulb in all three sockets. I'm thinking this is causing be problems too.

[Pepi]

Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam

How does one know if the bulls are in backwards?

Also, on my 64, according the schematics, the middle bulb is properly wired for parking light use only, it's a brake, but I noticed the catalogs call for the same 1157 dual element bulb in all three sockets. I'm thinking this is causing be problems too.

Just try reversing bulbs and see if things work...
Actually if you take them out, the pins on the side, one will be low, and the other one higher. Then if you look in the socket, you will see the slots where the pins go in and when the bulb is turn it locks it in. You will notice again, one slot ends higher up in the receptacle than the other one. Just make sure the higher pin goes into the shorter slot.

If you want to know if it takes a dual filament bulb, look down inside the socket, and do you see one metal contact or two. If you see one, it will use a single filament, and then obviously if you see two it uses a dual filament.

Hope that helps.

[AdamIsAdam]

Thanks Pepi. Yes, that helps. I went out this morning and removed the center bulbs to see if my problems went away. The bulbs sold list all 6 as taking the same 1157, dual elements. I saw what you meant by single and dual contacts (and single/dual wires). Since I only have dual element bulbs, I just removed both middle bulbs in hopes that my parking lights would come back on. They didn't.

To back up, and to continue or hi-jack this thread, I'm having similar problems.

When I got my car 2 weeks ago, the lights mostly worked, but not consistently and not all brightly. So I ordered all new bulbs. I know the grounds work by contact, so I figured I'd look there too.

Oh, and is it normal to only have brake lights with key in ON/ACC position?

When I got the new bulbs and started to install them, I pulled the sockets out with the parking lights on. I blew a fuse. I replaced it and proceeded with the bulbs. Some were hard to get out and then in. I now suspect I was putting them in backwards.

So after playing around, I successfully killed my tail lights all together! I have left side brake lights sometimes. If I play with the turn signal switch, I sometimes have both brake lights.

so this morning I went out and figured i'd remove the center bulbs since they're not correct and I thought maybe they're actually causing a short. That did nothing. I now have no brake lights and no tail lights. I left in frustration.

I ordered a rear harness and 6 new correct bulbs. The harness has been cut and patched with different types of sockets before I got it. Not all connections are great. But regardless, even at the wires I don't seem to get power for parking lights now.

I have power at the fuse box.

Also, are the bulbs supposed to be pretty hot to the touch when in parking light mode? they were when I had them on (the last time they worked). I'm concerned something shorted or over heated.

So I figure I'll get the new harness so that all the sockets and connections are good. I'll get new bulbs too, then start again.

I've also read that the parking lights, but not brake lights, go through the turn signal switch. So that's another trouble area to look at.

lastly, the right front turn signal doesn't aways work. And and speed at which the lights flash varies. I assumed due to shorting bulbs and/or grounds. Which is why I started with new bulbs in the first place!

argh!

[Pepi]

If they where on bright, yes they will get very hot, even on the dim filament they get warm/hot. I don't know how hot they get though. Only the right side cause the varying flash speed? If yes, then I would agree shorting or grounds. If both sides, maybe just maybe flasher going.

I don't know about brake lights only with key on. Sounds wrong to me, but I do not know without a diagram for your year car. Sorry. Don't want to say something wrong and get yelled at . I am sure someone that knows your car will chime in and help.

[AdamIsAdam]

Thanks. I just posted this in a new thread. I figured it's the right thing to do.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...41#post5168741

And yes, left and right side flasher speeds were different. Left seemed closer to normal and more consistent.