Folks,

I am one issue away from getting my car inspected. I cannot get the drivers side brake light to come on. Other side works fine. The normal lights and turn signals work just fine. I have swapped out bulbs and cleaned all contacts that I could think of. I am out of ideas. Any thing else to try?

Might be the turn signal switch.
The brake lights run through turn signal switch.
Do the hazzard flashers work properly?

I don't have hazards in my car. I'm not sure if it is supposed to or not. I don't have the spot for the hazard switch on my steering column.

The only wiring in the car I did not replace is the stuff in the steering column. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

in your rear light wiring harness there is a factory wire splice near the passenger side rear tail light. mine had gotten corroded and the wires had disentegrated - made mine do the same as you mention. check that too. my car is a 67...

66 I assume?

Hmm, strange if the turn signal and the other brake light is working because it's the same wire as the other brake light and same wire as that turn signal and same bulb filament as that turn signal.
I'm guessing it has to be a ground to the bulb base problem.

Try wrapping/twisting a piece of stranded wire around the bulb base and grounding the other end of the wire and see what happens.

On second thought it's not the same wire
See if you have power out of the turn signal switch with brake on and trun signal off.
I bet the problem is in the turn signal switch now that I think about it.

I try the wiring splice and then the switch. The switch is original and I should probably replace it anyway...that way I can say that all the wiring is new and should be worry free.

I had a faulty turn signal switch cause the same issue on my Chevelle years ago. Changed the switch and fixed the problem. :D

Thanks to all for the poke in the right direction. You guys are the best!!!!!!!!

For once on this car of mine, the problem was something simple. I took the directional switch out and unplugged the harness connector. Inside the connector are 4 tiny metal pieces that are held in place by the bends in the metal. These pieces are what make contact when the switch is actuated. When I unplugged the connector one of those little pieces wound up in my lap. I put it in where it belongs, reconnected the switch and holy crap everything works fine. I'm on a roll...fixed my lights and horn in the last 2 days. Time for a state inpsection, then the official maiden voyage after 5 years of work!