67 No brake or rear hazard lights

[Gerard F.]

The front parking lights flash with the hazard flasher switch but not the rear. Turn the lights on and all four rear lights go on. Signal lights work.

But still no brake light when I step on the brake. Every thing else works, interior courtesy lights, cigar lighter(which I think are on the same circuit).

Would it be the brake switch or the bulbs.

I had the hazard flasher on for about an hour and half when I got stuck with my wheel bearing incident about 6 weeks ago. Could I have burned the brake light on all 4 bulbs? Now with 2 new trailing arms replaced.

Going to tear into it tomorrow.

[Louis T.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

Hi Jerry,

I'd rule out your bulbs because your parking lights work (dim filament) and your signal lights work (bright filament). The bright filament is also used by the hazards and brakes.

The brake-light switch was two wires - the orange one is a hot feed from the battery and should be hot all the time, and the white one goes to the turn-signal switch.



1. Check the orange wire with a Volt-meter for 12 Volts all the time. If it fails, follow the wire to its source and look for a break. If it passes...



3. Check the alignment of the switch to make sure the plunger is depressed when you step on the brake pedal. If not, correct/adjust the switch position accordingly. If it passes...

4. Take the two disconnected wires and touch them together - the brake lights should work. If they don't, your problem either lies in the wire to the turn-signal switch or the turn-signal switch itself. But you mentioned that rear signals are working, but rear brakes and

Good luck!

Louis

[Timothy B.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

Jerry,

I agree that the turn signal switch may be your problem. If the front bulbs flash it's not the flasher, if blinkers work, it's not bulbs. Power for the bulbs goes through the turn signal switch both front and back.

If I remember correctly, didn't you replace that switch a while ago with repro?

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

Tim, Louis,

Thanks for the advice, I am still stymied.

Everything works except the rear brake lights on braking, and hazard flash.

I checked the brake pedal switch, it works as it should. I have 12 V at the orange wire at the brake switch. When fully extended I have 12V at the white wire connector to the signal switch.

Crazy, I don't understand it, the turn signals for the rear lights work fine, but no brake light or hazard flash. The front parking lights flash on hazard.

Seems like everything comes together at the signal switch. Yes Tim, the switch is a new repro I put on about a year and a half ago.

Everything worked fine at the Elk Grove meet about six weeks ago. Made 101% on ops. Then on the way home I had the left rear wheel bearing go out. The hazard flasher worked then on the side of the road for about 1-1/2 hours until a tow truck picked us up. Maybe with the length of time it was flashing, I burnt a wire?

Could anything be related to subsequent repairs? I have now two new trailing arm assemblies but no rear brake lights or rear hazard lights. But rear turn signal lights as well regular night lights in the rear.

What a mystery, going to tear into it again tomorrow.

[Louis T.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

Hi Jerry,



- the brake-light switch and related wiring

- the bulbs and wiring to them (both rear parking lights and signal lights work - this covers both filaments)

- the hazard switch (this is probably OK since the fronts flash)



Good luck tomorrow, and let us know what you find!

Louis

[Jean C.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

Jerry,
FYI. Should you find it necessary to replace the turn signal switch mechanisim in the column, be aware that GM still offers this part. I replaced the switch in my '64 with a repro and the repro part failed in less than two years . I found that GM carries this switch in stock so I went with the GM part. GM is a bit more expensive but so far it is working.
Best regards,

[Timothy B.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

I believe the 63 and 67 switch are unique to the year, not the same as 64-5-6 but I am sure there operation is the same.

As stated by Louis, the wires feeding flashers and brake lights for the rear are compromised in the switch. There are different wires feeding turn signals in that switch. Look there first Jerry, I think you will find the problem. Just a streak of bad luck that all happened at the same time, just be glad it was not worse.

Seems there is always a problem with repro parts.

[William C.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

I don't know about the reproductions, but I believe the original contacts in the turn signal switch were Silver plated to reduce the heat generated when the lamps were activated over a long time. The flasher application may well have overtaxed the contacts in the switch if the reproduction did not go the silver-plated contact route.

[Gerard F.]

Does anyone have a wiring diagragm

of a 67 signal switch. I have the chassis wiring diagragm both in color and black and white, but it really only shows the in and outs to the switch.

I also have my original switch, which worked fine electrically. Changed it because the directional lever wouldn't mechanically hold in left or right.
Figured I do a little troubleshooting between the original and the repro.

[Jerry G.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

I had this same exact problem this year with my 68. I can almost promise you that it will be the switch in the column. The feed goes from the brake switch at pedal, up through the turn signal switch, then back down to the brake switch, so jumping the pedal switch will not make them work. The flashers work on the same switch. You may have tried this, but work the signal lever up and down a few times and then try the brakes. It might have some corrosion. If not, pull the wheel and hub and try jumping across the column switch itself and they should come on. Why GM engineers made it that way, I'll never know. Anyway, I replaced mine with an aftermarket switch which was junk. I ended up buying a US made switch and that fixed the problem. Believe me, I did everything you're getting ready to do to find the problem, from ground to bulbs to jumping. Good luck.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

... I found that GM carries this switch in stock so I went with the GM part. GM is a bit more expensive but so far it is working. ....

For those that have a '64-66 w/o tele., the switch that Charlie replaced, here's a few shots. Nice thing is you get a brand new upper steering column bearing and horn contact ring. One caveat is that the color of the wires is much more vivid than the originals, which had several black w/colored stripes instead of solid cover. This is easily identified in the under-dash inspection, so for those that want to avoid a judging hit, I believe you can unplug the service harness that comes with this switch and re-use your existing wiring & plugs (pic 1, compare colors).

This switch is still avail @ 110 to 190 $ (get it while GM is still around )

Tim is correct in that '65-6 tele and '67-8 switches are different #'s and not available from the general.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

You're right Jerry, it's in the switch.

Tried jumping the brake line at the harness connector to the left and right tail lamp lines. Now I have brake lights and hazard flash on the rear lights.
Bu---ut, now both rears, as well as the fronts, blink on a turn signal.

What a crazy setup. Wouldn't one think that something as important as brake lights should be a separate system from the turn signals. Guess not.

So I ordered a new US made turn signal switch. Figured if I'm going to pull the steering wheel, and get into the switch, I might as well have a new switch handy.

I think what happened is that one of the contacts in the switch or wire contacts burned with the hazard flasher being on for an hour and a half waiting for the tow home.

Guess I got another fun project.

[Gary S.]

Re: 67 No brake or rear hazard lights

I think Clupper has it right. I have had similar problems on several cars and have been inside the turn signal switch several times to make repairs. I bet you will find the contact tang(s) are warped. You can trace what each do with a test light. You can probably bend the tang to make the proper contact but will it hold will be the question.

Good luck..Gary