Re: IML: 1961 imperial no brake lights

["Dick Benjamin" <DickB@xxxxxxxxx>]

THAT is decidedly wierd!  Has someone modified your car? There should not be another flasher on the car unless someone has retrofitted it with emergency flashers (4-ways).

 

Regarding the various suggestions involving the parking light sockets etc. - there is no connection between the brake lights and the parking lights - they are on totally different circuits - at least they are SUPPOSED to be!

 

Electrical circuits can do strange things sometimes, especially when the car is old enough to develop spurious electrical paths that are not designed into the car, due to corrosion etc., so I cannot say for certain that a bad ground on a parking light socket can cause brake lights to fail - but I'd have to see a schematic of THAT circuit to convince me.

 

Dick

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Battesby

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 11:05 AM

Subject: Re: IML: 1961 imperial no brake lights

ok Ill try that but you dont think it has anything to do with the flasher cause my blinkers work whether the flasher unit is plugged in or not ?

Dick Benjamin <DickB@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

This situation comes up about 6 times a year on the IML - you can find many discussions in the archive...  Most likely, the failure is in your turn signal switch. 

 

If you study the wiring diagram in the FSM, you can see where to probe with your meter or test light to prove this to yourself. 

 

The 12 volts from the brake light switch is routed through the turn signal switch to direct it to the rear light sockets, because the turn signals share the same filaments in the bulbs - the brake light current has to be interrupted by the turn signal switch when you are signalling for a turn at the same time you are stepping on the brakes. 

 

When the turn signal switch becomes worn, it usually starts to interrupt the brake light signal even when you are NOT signalling for a turn. 

 

Sometimes, you can make the problem go away (momentarily) by wiggling the turn signal switch.  Have someone stand behind the car (or back up to a wall where you can see the red glow) and wiggle the TS switch  while you press on the brake pedal - you may be able to find a position of  the handle where the brake lights work - if this is the case, start searching for a replacement turn signal switch.

 

Dick Benjamin

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Battesby

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 2:33 AM

Subject: IML: 1961 imperial no brake lights

Can someone give me some advise. Got no brake lights. I checked the power going to the switch its good . I put in a new switch its the kind that is in line with the fluid. No brake lights.  Now could it be the bulbs cause the blinkers and tail lights work there all in one ? I don't think so There is something weird going on though. When I start the car It starts with tail lights on . Even though the light switch is off. But there not on solid  they pulsate. To make this all go away all I have to do is turn the blinkers on  and off and the tail light go  off . Isn't that strange. Anyone have any advise ?