My 55 had no brake lights. I replaced the bulbs to no effect. I replaced the pressure switch in the MC and stuff worked super right away. Now one brake light is a goner again, the bulbs are new, and the switch is new. -I conclude that it is a problem in the wiring that has yet to reveal itself. Likey a short someplace where the cloth-insulation has cracked or worn off? Since the turn-signal still works, I presume that it has to do with the brake-circuit only. -Kenoyn --- Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Jim, > > How do you know the bulbs are fine? Remember, they > are dual-filament bulbs, > like two bulbs living in the same glass house. One > filament (the taller, > thinner one) is the dim taillamp, and the other > (short, thicker one) is the > brighter brake/turn lamp. > > Often if one fails, the common ground will employ > the other one when both > are in use. Depends on how the car is wired. > > Check these things: > > Turn on the parking lights only. Do the taillamps > turn on? Bright or dim? > Just for fun, check out the front parking lights > too. > > If the taillamps are on but too bright, turn the > parking lights off, turn > the key to the last position before "start" (the > normal running position) > and switch on one turn signal. Does it operate > normally? How about in front? > > Now, without turning anything off, turn the parking > lights back on. Now what > happens, front and rear. > > Now try the other turn signal, same routine. And > then the brake lamps. And > while you're at it, with all lights off, have > someone watch the front of the > car while you step on the brakes. Do the front turn > signals erroneously > illuminate with the brakes? (This could indicate > short or burned-out > condition in one rear bulb.) > > Do you have spare bulbs on hand? (Is this a 6-volt > or 12-volt car?) If so, > try replacing bulbs, even if they seem to be OK. > Make sure they installed > correctly, not 180 degrees off (note the distance > from the side posts to the > base of the bulb, and match it to the slots in the > socket walls.) > > If all else fails, post the answers to the above and > we'll go from there. > (Dick B is at the So Cal Imperial picnic today, so > the most brilliant > answers won't come until later!) > > Hope this helps, > Chris in LA > 67 Crown > 78 NYB Salon > > > On 10/1/06 11:26 AM, jtpoltrock@xxxxxxx at > jtpoltrock@xxxxxxx wrote: > > > Hello fellow Imperialist! > > I need some help figuring out a problem that just > began with my '55 sedan. I > > got up this morning and the weather looked great, > so I decided to take the > > Imperial for a Sunday cruise. It was a little > foggy out yet so I turned on my > > headlights. I noticed right away that the > taillights were burning > > brilliantly, like they would when the brake pedal > was pressed with the > > headlights on. There was no change when I pressed > the brakes. When I turned > > the headlights off the rear taillights went off > and I had no brake lights. In > > the interest of safety I ended up leaving the > Imperial at home- which is too > > bad because there are not many beautiful fall days > like today left. > > I am trying to figure out what the problem > is. The wiring looks fine and > > the hydraulic brake switch was replaced about two > months ago when I had the > > master cylinder rebuilt. The bulbs are fine, and > I have never had a lighting > > problem before. The FSM is not helping me figure > out the problem (unless i am > > missing something). > > Any leads or advice? All help would be > appreciated! > > > > Jim Poltrock > > Salem, WI. > > '55 sedan, 42k > > Wisteria blue over > > Rhapsody blue > > > > > > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com > ----------------- > > This message was sent to you by the Imperial > Mailing List. Please > > reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your > response will be > > shared with everyone. Private messages (and > attachments) for the > > Administrators should be sent to > webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to > http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > > > > > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com > ----------------- > This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing > List. Please > reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your > response will be > shared with everyone. Private messages (and > attachments) for the > Administrators should be sent to > webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to > http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > > Kenyon Wills ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm