brake light gremlin

wbedwards

wbedwards

Senior Member
59 Edsel with 3 lights per side. Only one is the brake light. Brake lights were working when I bought the car although they would come on and stick on randomly. After town trip last weekend, left side brake light has stopped working. Right side still works. Good bulb, good ground, turn signal works on same bulb, new blinker relay. Someone has replaced bulb socket already. Shorted across switch with no joy. I am going to rebuild master cylinder this weekend as I don't think its releasing correctly. I know the brake wire runs through it, but I really don't want to take the steering wheel off to check the turn signal switch as it seems to be working.
Any ideas before I start un-tapeing wires?

1959edselwiring_zpsnn7gxbyv.jpg


thanks
wbedwards
 
Do you have park lights on both lf & rt bulbs? Not sure if I understand correctly but do both lf & rt turn signals work? Shorting the brake switch should light the brake lights. With the brake switch shorted wiggle the turn signal arm and see if you get brake lights on both sides.

I suspect the turn signal switch might just need contact cleaner and lube on the pivot point.
 
Both turn signals do work. I think they use the same filament as the brake but is just interrupted? I tried wiggling the turn signal lever with no joy last night. I do have park lights and running lights but only one reverse lamp which is a different bulb.That's another gremlin for another day. I will try the contact cleaner tonight when I get home. Don't know why the wiring schematic printed so big. Sorry

wbedwards
 
Ford blue blood said:
I suspect the turn signal switch might just need contact cleaner and lube on the pivot point.
Click to expand...
I agree.
The non-working brake light and the turn signal on that side both use the same filament in the dual filament bulb, the other filament is for the tail light.

If the bulb works when being used as a turn-signal but not as a brake light the problem is most likely in the contacts of the turn signal switch. Yes, the turn signal switch 'interrupts' the brake light function(power) to either side of the car so the bulb can be temporarily used as a turn signal.
The contact that should (re)connect the brake light circuit to that side when the turn signal lever is released isn't making a connection.
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So.... I've used contact cleaner that ate plastic before =[ What brand would be good to spray in there? Thought about just wd-40 which shouldnt harm anything.
 
Blue Blood Your car is really nice looking. I see your in Bham. Are there any driveouts close by? Most I have seen are in North Alabama and am not sure I want to drive it that far just yet although its really given me no reason to worry. Drove it 80 miles Sat. to eat and back with no real problems. Have a sticky brake but I am going to rebuild master cylinder this week end and hope for a cure.
 
wbedwards said:
So.... I've used contact cleaner that ate plastic before =[ What brand would be good to spray in there? Thought about just wd-40 which shouldnt harm anything.
Click to expand...

Try tuner spray. It's for the old mechanical TV tuner mechanisms we had back when the earth was still cooling. It's less agressive than contact cleaner. Radio shack has it if you can find one that is still open, otherwise try any other electronics supply or order it online.
 
A dab of WD-40 or window cleaner on a piece of cloth may work ok. Cleaning is easy compared to getting them out, apart and back together without too much swearing.
Some turn signal switches are easier to get to than others, you might get lucky and be able to open it up without having to remove it, but watch for springs that might jump out or worn out contacts that can easily break off.
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Steering wheel is already cracked but has been redone. I'm sure the plastic is brittle. I hate pulling things to get to broke things. =]
 
wbedwards said:
... Brake lights were working when I bought the car although they would come on and stick on randomly...
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure the brake light switch is a fluid pressure switch, probably below the master cylinder just before the brake line splits left/right/rear. It may have a crud buildup at it's inlet. You can save having to bleed the brakes twice if cleaning it out doesn't solve the problem, and just replace it with a new one.

http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_edsel/brake-light-switch-edsel-only.html

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I'm in the Center Point area just off Old Springville Rd. Going up to Ekinrod Ford in Cullman tomorrow, went to a little show in Warrior last week. That was the maiden voyage for the car.

With what you said about the signals working it is a faulty turn signal switch.
 
thanks for the ideas, will work on it again this weekend

On the car show/driveouts/swapmeets, is the information on the internet or just word of mouth? The only one I've seen local is in Gardendale 4/17-18?
 
Well, it was under the steering wheel. Had to pull it, clean sand blasting grit out of everything, clean it, lube it and resolder the horn wire. It was missing a spring on the blinker return too. I had a spring just a tad bigger that came out of a set of lawn mower points. It will be tomorrow before I get it all back together, but it all is working. Thanks for all your help and replies.

wbedwards
 
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