76_620 Posted August 9, 2018 Report Share Posted August 9, 2018 (edited) 73 Datsun 510, (Mexican 510) so the these tail lights are stock to the car. brake lights not working. I have running lights, turn signals, headlights, dash lights, ALL LIGHTS, but the brake lights. I have checked and replaced every single fuse, cleaned fuse box, checked for lose/corroded wires up in the engine bay by the fuse box. Replaced brake switch, checked bulbss at the rear. I believe now there’s only one thing ? Possibly a ground ??? Not sure where the ground would be located for brake lights ? Don’t know what else to check. Would appreciate some Guidance thanks. Edited August 9, 2018 by 76_620 Quote Link to comment
76_620 Posted August 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2018 Just noticed I posted in the how to, don't know How to change that. Still new to this ? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 9, 2018 Report Share Posted August 9, 2018 The rear side clearance, running lights, brake and signal ground through the bulbs to the body. If the ground is bad none of these will work. Get a $5 test lamp and check there is power at the brake switch and follow it back... Quote Link to comment
76_620 Posted August 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2018 So I checked power to the brake switch, we have power there. So that tells me the problem is from there back ? But what to check next ? Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 10, 2018 Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 Check the connectors on the harness... where ever the rear wires plug in... they tend to corrode and loose connection.... like Mike said follow it back.... Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 10, 2018 Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 I would even check right at the light, probably easier, make sure you have power and ground there.... if no power there work your way back and find the connectors... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 10, 2018 Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 Is it JUST the brake or are all lights not working? Do both the rear turn signals work??????? This is important to answer because if they do work it proves that the wiring to, and the bulbs and ground are working and need not be checked. When brake pedal is DOWN the brake signal is sent to the steering column. Here it splits into TWO wires, one for the left and one for the right sides. This is because the brake and the turn signal share the same bulbs. The steering column switch disconnect the brake signal to the turning side and allow the bulbs to flash. If both brake lights are out it's very unlikely that both wires to the rear have failed. Quote Link to comment
76_620 Posted August 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 I have all lights, running lights, both turn signals, every light works but the brake lights. I’ve checked plugs as well they seem to be fine. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 If the signals work the wiring, plugs, grounds are fine. Split the steering column 'clam shell' tha covers the ignition switch and turn signal guts. It's just a couple of screws. Now you can get at it. Check the Green/Yellow wire into the turn signal switch for power when the brake is applied. If no power then something is wrong between here and the pedal switch. If there is power, remove the steering wheel so you can inspect the internal parts of the turn signal switch. You'll maybe find the Green/Yellow wire may have broken the solder connection. Easy fix with soldering iron. Short of that the switch may be broken. Keep in mind that the signals and the brake light share the same bulbs so on a (for example) right turn, the switch first disconnects the brake power from the rear right bulb and then connects the flasher. The left side is unaffected and the brake light operates normally. When the signal returns to the neutral position the flasher disconnects and the brake re-connects. Expose the 19mm? steering wheel nut. Mark or take note of the wheel position so that it can be put back on the same spline position. Loosen nut but leave on the last two threads. With the flats of your hands strike the undersides of the steering wheel driving it towards you. It should jump off the splines and stop against the wheel nut. As an added precaution turn your head so you don't accidentally knock your teeth out. The nut should hold.... Then remove nut and start washer. Now you can inspect the turn signal switch properly. If soldering needed it's easily removed from the column with a screwdriver. Quote Link to comment
mhinkens Posted November 25, 2023 Report Share Posted November 25, 2023 So, I’m reading this thread and thinking I may have a similarly confusing issue. On my 72 2 door 510 I had no brake lights suddenly and I thought it was my brake light switch at the pedal but buying a new one has changed nothing. And I’m not actually sure how long this has been happening so I’m not sure what a random cause could be. here is where I am at: Car at rest, off, no lights on but when you hit the brake ALL of these come on: front blinkers/running lights, front side markers, rear side markers, license plate lights, entire taillight array, AND THE DAMN SPEEDO DASH LIGHT! Car with headlight on, all lights turn on around the car BUT the brake pedal does nothing EXCEPT FOR a Slight flicker in the right taillight. I feel the electrical gremlin nipping at my ass and I hate it! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 25, 2023 Report Share Posted November 25, 2023 The brake switch sends power to the two rear brake lights which are grounded. That's it. The lighting switch in either of the two positions, sends power to dash, side marker, license, front amber and rear red parking lights. The only place these two separate circuits are close to each other is the harness running through the cabin under the carpet on the hump?, under the rear seat over to the right side into the trunk and to the tail lights. First guess is the rear seat has pinched this harness or it's pinched or damaged somewhere else possibly hit by cargo in the trunk? around the shifter? Quote Link to comment
mhinkens Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 Mike, so you are saying that the actual brake light wire and the actual lighting system wire must be bare somewhere and touching each other (probably pinched together)? Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 My guess is you have a 1156 bulb in a 1157 spot. If I win you owe me a coke. Edit: in the brake light socket 1 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 Yup the single terminal on the bottom can bridge across the two terminals on the plug. Brake light power would turn on lights 1 Quote Link to comment
mhinkens Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 Wow! I hope that's right. Sounds probably. I just put in ALL REAR LEDs per someone's upgrade kit I bought here and thought: I bet it the LEDS! BUT, after I noticed this issue, I swapped back to the old bulbs and it didn't seem to fix it. BUT, I think I may have only swapped one side. In other words, maybe I need to run all the lights back to stock first to check... Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted November 27, 2023 Report Share Posted November 27, 2023 The plot thickens. We gotta know what did it. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted November 27, 2023 Report Share Posted November 27, 2023 15 hours ago, mhinkens said: I just put in ALL REAR LEDs per someone's upgrade kit the truth comes out. Quote Link to comment
mhinkens Posted December 3, 2023 Report Share Posted December 3, 2023 Well, sometimes it’s the simplest. Thankfully it was! Turned out it was the led lights in the brake-light socket having a single connector. Old bulbs solved the problem. Duh. Thanks all! Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted December 5, 2023 Report Share Posted December 5, 2023 Bam!! called it!! 1156 in a 1157 spot! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 5, 2023 Report Share Posted December 5, 2023 One internet beer! Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted December 6, 2023 Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 "fixed" the cruise control on a qx4 by putting a 1157 in where someone had put a 1156. Would work till you turned the lights on. Was a big clue. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.