The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Turn signal/brake light problem

I have a modified '49 Chevy pickup, with a '75 (?) Chevelle steering column. My brake lights went out, so we just ran a wire from the b/l switch to the brake light wires behind the cab. The lights work, but when my turn signals are on and the brakes are on they don't blink. Let off the brake pedal and they blink again. Could it be the turn signal switch in the cloumn has gone bad and was my original problem? Seems I replaced it once before, but you never know. Thanks

did the blinker still work when the brake lights didn't?

the reason the blinkers don't blink now when the brakes are on is that you have bypassed the blinker with your "just run a wire" setup, that's normal behavior

the blinkers work by interrupting the power to the brake lights, so the problem may be the switch itself, but more likely a connection from the brake light switch to the blinker assy

Bill

Bill,
Sorry for the delay getting back to you. I don't have internet service any more, so have to use somebody else's. The turn signals did work when the brake lights didn't. Just to add a new wrinkle, I took it out yesterday for a spin and everything worked just fine. Both signals worked even with the brakes on. I hate electrical problems!! Paul B.

look for a ground problem, most likely thing with erratic lighting - or just a loose/dirty connection

Bill