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

Hello,
I am glad to be a new member of this forum! I have a 1948 Chev 1/2 ton pick-up. The truck originally had one stop/tail light on the left side as from the factory. Since I have added a right stop/tail light, the left stop light bulb quit glowing brightly, in fact it is barely lit when depressing the brake pedal. The right one glows brightly though. These are the two bulb lamps. When I remove the stop light bulb from the right tail light, the left one glows brightly again. Does anyone know how I can make them both glow brightly at the same time? Is this a grounding issue? Thanks in advance for your replies!!

littlebuddie

Whar happens if your taillights are on at the same time?

It could be a Grounding issue.

Which bulbs are installed?

Are the bulbs wired correctly (e.g. the dimmer of the two to the tail lights and the brigher to the brake lights)?

That's about all that I can think of right off of the top of my head.

Hi, Thanks for your replies! When both lights are activated via the brake pedal, the right stop bulb glows brightly and the left stop bulb barely glows. But remember, when I take the right bulb out, the left glows brightly as it should. So the right and left work fine alone but not toghther. Are there not enough amps going through that circuit to light 2 stop bulbs? The wiring harness is not original. It was replaced 35 years ago with a proper after-market harness.
I do have the dimmer bulbs correctly plugged into the tail light sockets and the brighter of the bulbs in the brake light sockets. New bulbs have not made a positive difference. I have had this truck for 40 years and this problem has always been there since I added the second tail/stop light assembly. I guess it is about time I asked for help on this matter, huh?

You have a grounding problem with the left tail lamp. Check that thourghly.
Tom

Hi!
I forgot to menton that the truck has a 6 volt electrical system. Picture taken yesterday:
[img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/littlebuddytoo/Copyof005.jpg[/img]

littlebuddie,

She looks like a beauty that earns her keep!


Stuart

Sharp lookin' truck! I'm jealous. If you look at my truck, you'll see why!

If you've got the correct bulbs in the correct places, then I've pretty much got nuthin'.

It sounds like a bad ground until you pull the other light bulb. It might still be a grounding issue.

Visually inspect your wires, clean up your grounds, and if necessary, export your grounds.

I have all of my grounds going up to the headlight ground screw on the inner fender. You could just as easily go to the seat riser or to a bolt on the block or transmission.

Good Luck!

Sometimes it helps to put a ground wire from the frame to the bed.

Did you wire the extra taillight with it's own circuit or pigtail it off of the left taillight? A RH taillight was an option and the factory harness came with a seperate circuit to the RH light. As noted above a good ground is required along with a dedicated circuit (one wire from the HL switch to the TL & one wire from the BL switch to the BL) to the new light. I echo the sentiments above that you have a great looking truck!

I might also add that your single filiment bulbs are pretty dim anyway. you can get 6V LEDs here: http://www.highspeedmotors.com/Webled.html that should be much brighter. I'm going to order some next week. The problem is they are $28 per bulb so it's over $100 for both taillights & both brakelights.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all of your suggestions!!! Thanks also for the compliments on the truck. Yes, that truck has always earned it's keep. I've had it since I was 14 years old. I've always remembered all the hard work it took to get my first vehicle and I think I formed good ethics early on just because of that truck.
I will definately re-check all the grounds. Tiny, what you said makes a lot of sense so maybe a little re-wiring is in order because I did pig-tail the right light off of the left. Also, those LED bulbs are beginning to sound awfully tempting! Wrench Bender, now that you mention it, I don't think the bed is grounded. Now I have some direction with this mystery! Fat Fenders, I will make sure that the left light is properly grounded! I am so impressed with you all on this forum and for your thoughtful replies. Thanks Again,
littlebuddie

Hey Brendan M
I bet your truck is a lot better than mine was once. Hang in there - good happens.........
littlebuddie
[img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/littlebuddytoo/Truck1968.jpg[/img]

Maybe I didn't phrase my question correctly, but what happens when you have the taillights on at the same time that the brake lights are on? I assume you don't have turn signals wired into the brake light circuit.

Hi Baldy,
I took the lenses off to get a good look......
When I press on the brake pedal(tail lights not engaged yet) the left tail light is barely glowing along with the barely glowing brake light. I didn't notice that before. And the right brake light glows brightly and the tail light is off (as it should be). When I engage the tail lights and brake lights together, both bulbs on the left side are very dim and the right tail/brake light bulbs perform correctly. Thanks for your tenacity with this matter!

littlebuddie

While the lens is off, try running a wire from the frame to the left taillight assembly to see if the light brightens. Make sure you have a good clean connection on the frame. If that works, you have to permanately ground that taillight assembly.

Hi Baldy,
Thanks for your quick reply - you guys on this forum are awesome!
I'll give your suggestion a try tomorrow and let you know the results. Nice weather we're having in Oregon, I'm up the road from you near Oregon State University!

littlebuddie

Hi Baldy,
Well,your suggestion worked! All the tail and brake lights work as they should now. I appreciate all of the time everyone took attempting to teach me something about solutions to my problem. I am a lot wiser now courtesy of you all. Thanks!

littlebuddie

You're welcome, littlebuddie.

And thank you for letting us know that our suggestions were helpfull.