Brake lights not working

daoust

daoust

Member
My '47 Ford has no brake lights. I'm trying to diagnose why. The directionals and parking lights work but not the brake lights. The car has an older after market turn signal installed (Signal-Stat 900). It also has a taillight configuration like one in the image attached. The car is still 6 volt positive ground. Ultimately I'd like to convert the taillights to LEDs if possible but I'm sure that's possible with the taillight unit currently installed. The first thing is to determine why the existing brake lights aren't working. Any suggestions on where to start? Any insights appreciated. Thank you.
 

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You can jumper across the two tabs on the brake light switch and if the brake lights come on, your switch is bad.
 
Planojc said:
You can jumper across the two tabs on the brake light switch and if the brake lights come on, your switch is bad.
Click to expand...


X2, I just replaced a non working hydraulic brake light switch. I cut it open to see what the problem was and discovered one of the contacts was burned.
 
daoust said:
My '47 Ford has no brake lights. I'm trying to diagnose why. The directionals and parking lights work but not the brake lights. The car has an older after market turn signal installed (Signal-Stat 900). It also has a taillight configuration like one in the image attached. The car is still 6 volt positive ground. Ultimately I'd like to convert the taillights to LEDs if possible but I'm sure that's possible with the taillight unit currently installed. The first thing is to determine why the existing brake lights aren't working. Any suggestions on where to start? Any insights appreciated. Thank you.
Click to expand...
588431
 
Like others have said, jump the two wires together at the brake light switch to see if it's the switch. A voltmeter is a really handy tool for seeing if you have voltage and grounds to the brake lights. I've also had both bulbs go bad at the same time on vehicles at work. That's what a voltmeter is for.
 
Sounds like a no power problem, so be advised that power comes from the directional
switch /system usually a brown wire (because you have a two light system) its like this lets say left blinker is flashing and the right stop light is on steady Not saying its the hydraulic switch which has to work. I have replaced my 46 4 times like condenser junk.
 
daoust said:
My '47 Ford has no brake lights. I'm trying to diagnose why. The directionals and parking lights work but not the brake lights. The car has an older after market turn signal installed (Signal-Stat 900).
Click to expand...

There are two wires for the brake lights, black and gray. If neither works than it points strongly to a defective brake light switch or a broken wire/connection from the switch via the Grey/Black wire.

588465
 
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