Tail Lights

[Ken]

When the headlights are on on my 66', the taillights, liscense plate, and parking lights do not light. I read there is a circuit in the headlight switch which is probably the cause. Can this be fixed, or does the whole switch need to be replaced?
Thanks for any input!

 

[Joe Vandatta]

There is a circuit that goes from the headlight switch to the tail lights. You can not repair a headlight switch.
Joe

 

[Ken]

Joe, thanks for the input. Do you mean there is a separate circuit from the switch to the tail lights? Or is it in the headlight switch? If separate, where is it to check?

Ken

 

[Joe Vandatta]

The headlight switch is fed voltage from the fuse. box. It then has circuits (incorperated) to various light assemblies, the tail lghts being one of them
Joe .

 

[500sec]

Yes you must replace the headlight switch

 

[Ken]

Ok, I replaced the headlight switch today, and I now have one working parking light-passenger side. Still no tail lights, liscense plate, or drivers side parking. I have checked everything - the bulbs, the power at the headlight switch, the circuits, and traced the wiring. I don't see anything else. Every other light on the car, both interior and exterior work. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Joe Vandatta]

Do your stop lights, turn signal and 4 ways work? If they do, ck for bad ground connections. Ck. the black wire that feeds the tail lights for voltage (in the trunk)
Joe
PS-- the ground wire is also sometimes black.

 

[Ken]

Joe,

Yes, turn signals, stop lights, and 4 ways work. I will check the grounds.

Thanks.

 

[Joe Vandatta]

Nick,
In the trunk, take the the right (passenger) side rear board liner off to expose the wiring. You will see black ground leads to the body. I think this is your problem if you have voltage to the black tail light (running) lead.
Joe

 

[Ken]

Joe,

As are many other Bird owners, I am indebted to you. Sure enough I went out to the car, checked the two grounds in the rear trunk, but they seemed fine. But then I noticed in the wiring harness behind the deck lift cylinder, there were 4 black wires joined together, which I am assuming are grounds, connected to a white wire leading back into another wire harness. The white wire had pulled almost all the way out of the connection. As soon as I touched them, all the running lights came on. I stripped and wire nutted the whole thing together. This does not look like original wiring, maybe the original owners fix? Does it sound original?

Thank You!

 

[Joe Vandatta]

Nick,
It dosent sound like it's the original wiring, more like someones work of art---
but what the heck, if it works thats great.
At least you have all systems working.
Joe