The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Newly Installed Wire Harness and turn problems

I have a 1953 1/2 ton Chevy. I have done a frame off restoration. I installed a new replacement wire harness. I was very impressed with the harness as every connection was the correct type end and wire gauge. It was cut and ends put on it exactly where they should be and all went well. The new wire harness has turn signals wired in also. My truck did not have factory turn signals, I think in 1953 they were an option but I am not sure. I bought a 6 volt Signal Stat interchangeable non specific turn signal and I mounted it to the steering wheel (Chinese reproduction from Chevs of the 40’s, it doesn’t say Signal Stat but looks like one it is chrome with the green pilot light and red center pilot light for the 4 way flashers when that is pulled (pilot lights work)). I grounded the unit with a separate wire because I used steering wheel mounting rubber gasket so I didn’t have to scratch the new paint to get a ground. I also bought a 6 volt flasher. I bought the remanufactured original tail lights with (2) 6 volt bulbs and 2 wires in each. I wired the tail lights to the lower smaller bulb and they work great. I wired the turn signal and stop lights together to the top big (brighter) bulb. The turn signal switch has a red wire to run to the stop lights I didn't hook it up yet but just ran a wire and tested it since I had already ran the stop light switch and wires when I was working under the hood. Now, when I turn on either turn signal both flashes. I would guess that because both brake lights are wired to the turn signals I am getting feed back through the brake light circuit and that is what is causing both signals to flash. I unplugged the white wire or the feed to the stop lights from the brake light switch and ran it through the turn signal switch using the red wire as indicated temporarily hooked up to test it but both signals still flash. My question is. Isn't the turn signal switch suppose to allow one signal light to come on and flash and one brake light to come on steady when I have one turn signal on and push the brake like sitting at a stop light making a turn? I pulled the chassis plug apart and tested the continuity and to my surprise the purple wire or the tail light circuit is showing a grounded circuit but the parking lights work fine. I don’t see any value in that statement but wanted to throw it in there. The stop and signal circuit are different wires and different bulbs and the parking lights don't run through the turn signal switch at all only the headlight switch. I am stumped. The brake light wire from the turn signal switch seems not to be doing its job by letting one signal flash while letting one brake light up. Even when the brake is not pushed it still flashes both no matter what side I choose to signal. The wires to the back of the truck all run separate so I did not do any cutting or splicing, all the wires were there, the short wires went to the left turn signal (checking the color codes of course) and the right side were longer to run to the right side. I wired one wire each to the parking lights and 2 wires into one using one of those blue plastic square 2 wires on one side and one wire on the other side into one splice clips with the metal guillotine you squeeze together and then push the plastic flap over the top until it clicks. I used shrink wrap on all my connections. If you made it this far and I have explained my problem correctly can anyone see what I am doing wrong? Do I need to buy new tail lights that have one parking light and then also a second socket with a 2 wire pig tail using a 1154 bulb or something like that ( if they are even available)? Do they have to be wired with all 3 wires separate? Current technology dictates NO. I thought that was what the turn signal switch was supposed to do, keep the circuts seperate. It was a long day of checking and double checking so I think I am going to go have a beer and relax for a while, maybe fresh eyes on Tuesday when I am off will bring a revelation but in the mean time I am asking for help if you see something glaring out at you I did incorrectly. Forum searches did not pin point my problem so that is why I am writing this. I saw a lot of turn signal problems but I didn’t see my problem using the search function. Thanks in advance. John

Your brake lighting and turnsignals should not have separate wires at the light housing. From what I gathered from your very confusing post there are separate wires at the lights and you spliced them together there.

I'm assuming you have the 7 wire switch. With this type of switch the brake light signal comes from the brake light switch to the turnsignal switch. Then it is directed in the turnsignal switch to the proper light.

I can't imagine why a harness built for turnsignals would have separate wires going to the rear for the brakes and the signals unless it was built for a 3 or 5 wire switch. If that is the case and you are using a 3 or 5 wire switch you need separate lights.

My wire harness was wired the same as yours, 53John. When I installed my wireing harness, it had six wires to the tail lights. One purple to each for tail lights, one white to each for brake lights, one yellow for turn signal on left, and one blue for turn signal on the right. When I signaled in either direction the front lights worked fine, but both tail lights flashed at the same time. Here's what I did; I cut the white wires at the tail lights(the ones for the brake lights), you don't need these any more. I cut the white wire that comes from the brake light switch(that powered the brake lights)and spliced a length of wire to it. Now that wire runs from the brake light switch to the turn signal unit instead of to the brake lights. There should be no wire from the turn signal unit to the tail lights for brake lights, the brake lights are activated by the turn signal wires. I'm guessing the the red wire on your unit for brake lights is where the white wire from the brake light switch feeds into your signal unit. I hope this helps. PM me otherwise.

OK, Wow.. sorry about the rambling message Cletis. I was tired, agravated and worn out.

That is good to know Twotone that there is someone else out there that has experienced the same thing when I followed the wiring diagram to a tee.

Twotone, I have been thinking about it all day at work today and your suggestion sounds right to me. Since both bulbs were feed by the turn signal wires AND the brake wires it created a loop. The rear brake light wires have to be cut off in my mind and when I read your message it just confirmed it. Thanks Twotone. I will tackle it tomorrow and see how I make out. The worse thing that can happen is I have to reconnect the brake wires ( I don't think so since it makes sense to me) and I have 2 wire connectors.

I do have a 7 wire switch Cletis and there is a flaw in the directions when they tell you how to wire the rear lights. The brake lights are getting power from 2 sources.
Thanks John

Have you look at Cletis's Tech Tip?

Yes I did see it when I did the search, but mine was a 7 wire signal stat and the new harness runs 6 wires to the back of the truck, That is more of a "add signals" to an existing wired truck with out signals tech tip. Basicly the brake light wire has to be quarantined because it creates a loop in the new wire harnesses. I guess they were built for a span of years and maybe one with the turn signal switch built into the steering wheel might use all 6 wires, but I don't understand how. I am going to cut the brake wires today, rewire the brake light switch into the turn signal switch and let the turn signal switch work the brake lights and see how I make out. Thanks for your help.

This is a follow up for people that do a search in the future. If you have a new wire harness that has 6 wires that run to the back lights and a 7 wire interchangable turn signal.

You have follow the directions above that Twotone spelled out.

I have followed the directions above and all works well. You basicly have to do away with the seperate white wires running to the back for the brake lights, it will get it's power through the turn signal if you have a 7 wire turn signal and follow the above directions and turn signals and brake lights work like a charm.

Thanks Cletis,and Twotone.

John

Hey, I'm just glad I could help. I only figured out the trick and rewired my tail lights the night before you posted your question, so it was still fresh in my head.

I figured there were wires to run with and without turn signals. Glad you got it all figured out.

Some fine thinking there gents!