[VeniceGrey]

So I wan the 67 chevelle about two days ago, No prob... I was gonna cruse tonight when I noticed my brake/rear running lights were not working(no light). Tried my blinker, worked perfect, so I know there is not a short at the tail lights. I also have two new bulbs and one new bulb socket. I checked the fuse and no power going to it(or from it). Took of the fuse panel to check for shorts behind and tested the wires, no power. So(this it were it gets odd), I then proceeded to run a fused HOT jumper to the fuse panel to test. Running lights work and my dash lights turned on(I didn't realize it was off untill this point). Mind you blinkers, head light and front blinkers work this whole time. I went to test my brake light and instead if getting brighter, they dim when i hit the brake then slowly get brighter(as bright as the running light. I also tested my brake pedal switch, seem perfect.

What am I missing? I cant get to my ignition switch without taking my dash apart, and even with jumped power, no brake light. I know my charging sys is perfect and battery is good(dash does not dim when I hit the brake.

PLEASE help, I just got back on the road after 5 years of work on her. Thanks if advance...

Greg

 

[442 Harv]

No elec expert, but I had a problem with a GMC pu years ago. The conector, at the lite switch came a little loose, pushed it in and it worked. Not sure why, but it also would keep coming loose, evey now and then. I would check the lite switch. As far as the brake going dim, I'm not sure, but I have found when I have a problem simiular to this type problem, it is usally a ground problem, something trying to ground back through one of the power line. Had a problem somewhat like it, but my dash lites would get briter with the lites on when I pushed the brake. It was the ground, where the rear wire conector for a trailer. I had to have some one help me find that problem. He said almost all the time when you have those wired lite problems like theses, it is a ground problem.

 

[Philip]

Tried my blinker, worked perfect, so I know there is not a short at the tail lights.
Greg

Those are on separate circuits only sharing the ground.

On your 67 the front park lights and rear tail lights are on different circuits too. It may be a connection problem on the switch or a bad switch.
The brake light dimming sounds like a bad ground on the rear harness. Usually it will not be evident unless both stop/turn and tail are on at the same time.

 

[VeniceGrey]

I have checked the grounds for tail lights... the odd thing is that why would half the problems be fixed with a hot lead to my fuse box? Like I stated, there seems to be two separate issues. the running and dash light, then the brake lights dimming after temp fixing the running lights...

Those are on separate circuits only sharing the ground.

On your 67 the front park lights and rear tail lights are on different circuits too. It may be a connection problem on the switch or a bad switch.
The brake light dimming sounds like a bad ground on the rear harness. Usually it will not be evident unless both stop/turn and tail are on at the same time.

 

[LeoP]

the circuits don't get power from the ignition switch. the brake lights are powered all the time, the turn signals are powered when the ign switch is on. DO you have the correct bulbs installed?

 

[VeniceGrey]

I do have the right bulbs in... I drove the car 3 days ago and everything was perfect... I wish I could find a wiring diagram for the brake/dash lights...

 

[VeniceGrey]

does anyone have a diagram of a 67 headlight switch or know how to test them?

 

[VeniceGrey]

Update.. its not the switch(replaced it), but i put a jumper from reg to green and got power at the right fuse....

 

[VeniceGrey]

help?

 

[Philip]

If you do not have power at the fuse it is the switch or the circuit between it and the fuse. The 67 and earlier switch is different than the 68 and later. The front park lamps normally go off when the head lights are turned on. It has an extra terminal in the head lamp switch to accomplish that.

The dash lights are on separate fuse, but the power for them comes through the tail light fuse.

 

[VeniceGrey]

i put a new switch in.. made sure they looked the same... how is the power supplied to the switch? is it directly from the alt? or battery... Im gonna check to see if my switch is getting power... thanks for the diagram.

 

[VeniceGrey]

i just jumped my switch and where you have it labeled tail turned on my headlights... and i jumped tail and my front blinker lights came on...

i also jumped power to my brake light switch and they came on bright as can be... also my rear blinkers work perfectly... no power going to my brake light switch...

 

[Philip]

Power is from the main power terminal, not through the ignition switch.

 

[Philip]

i just jumped my switch and where you have it labeled tail turned on my headlights... and i jumped tail and my front blinker lights came on...

Have you done any other wiring changes?

 

[VeniceGrey]

no wiring changes for a while... What feeds the running/dash lights/brake? also brake light switch (no power)?