The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Brake Light Issue

I just bought a 1958 Chevy Apache truck and am having a wierd issue with my left side brake light. When I turn my right signal on, both the left and right side brake lights work. When I turn my left turn signal on, my right brake light works but not the left. when I return the turn signal arm to the center position, my left side brake light works sometimes, but the right side always works. It is not the wiring, but seems to be at the turn signal switch itself. I can fiddle with the switch by moving the arm slightly down and the left brake light will work, but if I go too far down with the signal arm, the left brake light will not work. Do I need a new turnsignal switch to fix my problem?

could be - best to open it up and see if there's a wire that got pinched and opens or shorts with movement - could have to do with the wiring from the brake light switch to the column too - also make real sure you have good grounding from the light buckets to the bed and bed to frame, that's the most common problem

Bill

Had that happen on my 54. Id go with the switch.
Theyre available for abt 20.00 from the suppliers-- Truck Shop,,Jim Carter,,Classic Parts,,Brothers,,Filling Station etc.

Just ordered one tonight. Looks fairly easy to install. This should fix my problem.

I wold check for bad ground at both rear lignts souds like one is not grounded good and is searching for a grund through another light.

You may have one turn indicator wire swapped with tail light or back-up wire.

It's gotta be the switch. When the turn signal switch is in either of the turn positions, the stop lamp filament (not the tail light that's on constantly with the park/headlights) get's it's power from the turn-signal switch.

Pull out your flasher relay, put the switch in a turn position and you'll see that you have no brake lights on that side.

The switch came in and am ready to install. I need to get the bottom cup that holds switch mechanism low enough so I can get to the switch. Any tricks to getting further down the column than an inch? If I have to remove the steering wheel, I am just going to wait until my new steering box comes in. Then I will have the steering wheel and column dismantled.

you'll be waiting then, but it's not a major job to pull the wheel

Bill

How hard is it to dismantle and re-install the turn signal arm guts in the cup. I'm sure I can take it out real easy, but putting it back together the correct way is another story. I got the cup lowered enough to where I can reach all the components inside with tools.

Take a couple of good pictures before you start tearing it out. As you pull stuff out, arrange it in order on the table. You shouldn't have any trouble putting it back together.

Well, I just finished a steering gearbox swap and did the signal switch while I was at it. Steering now works great and I have brakes lights and turn signals. Woo Hoo! Thanks to all who helped. A fine information resource this is turning out to be.