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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> General Electrical Forum -> Lost dash, tail and brake lamps. What could it be?
Post Info TOPIC: Lost dash, tail and brake lamps. What could it be?
cdnpont


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Lost dash, tail and brake lamps. What could it be?
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Guys,

Went out for a cruise this evening.

When it got darker I realized I had no dash lights. Then noticed no rear tail lamps or brake lamps. But headlamps, front running and signals all good. No history of elect trouble ever in this car.

No time till after the weekend to troubleshoot...

What would be your quick opinion of what it might be?

 

Cheers,

Mark



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 
4SPEED427


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Well, the dash and tail lights are same fuse, so I'd check for power there.

Next I'd check for power at both side of the brake switch.

And if those both have power, I'd check that ribbon that runs under the carpet to the back. Sounds like it might have come unplugged. It has two connections I think, one right where it goes under the carpet at the front and one under the back seat where it comes up and heads for the trunk.

Does the fuel gauge work? I think it's part of that ribbon as well.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
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Greaser


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I had that issue in my 63.....changed the fuse and it blew as well.

Took out the light switch,pulled it apart, cleaned up the inside and contacts, everything was good to go.



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cdnpont


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The fuel gauge has been inoperative for about 3 years Carl. I just pull into the gas station once a day. Now twice a day lol!

Interesting.

Would the ribbon being unplugged knock out the dash lights?

The only thing I did under dash, was to splice into a line I had coming off an acc. terminal on the block, to get power to the Air/Fuel meter. Maybe I disturbed something.



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 
norontcan


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Believe the dash lights are on the same circuit/fuse as the tail/brake lights for a good reason. If the head lights fail it would be obvious to the driver but if the rear lights fail it wouldn't be noticeable while driving. So add into the circuit something that you would immediately notice and respond to.

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4SPEED427


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I don't think it would affect dash lights Mark other than I was thinking possibly if the connector did unplug and a wire grounded.

Have you tested for power at both sides of the tail light and brake light fuses?

And I know it's a bit of work but testing that ribbon at both connections would sure narrow it down.

The headlight switch is also a good suggestion although it wouldn't affect brake lights.

Is it possible that either the tail or brake lights had been out earlier and this is two different problems but you only noticed it now?

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
cdnpont


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norontcan wrote:

Believe the dash lights are on the same circuit/fuse as the tail/brake lights for a good reason. If the head lights fail it would be obvious to the driver but if the rear lights fail it wouldn't be noticeable while driving. So add into the circuit something that you would immediately notice and respond to.

It took me a while to see the connection here. I saw dash out and thought..no biggie, I can live tonight without the dash lights. To be honest, only when it was pointed out by another good motorist did I find out I had no tails.

Makes logical sense now.



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 
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4SPEED427


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My 67 manual shows the inst lps fuse, stop/haz fuse, tail lps fuse as 3 separate fuses. Is that how your's shows Mark?

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
cdnpont


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Ok, curiosity got the better of me so I went out for a peek. Had a peek at the fuse box....blown 20a stop lamp fuse.

Changed it and dash and running back on. Interesting. Hmm.

The fuses in my panel all look original. Most have colour stripes around them on the glass. The stop lamp fuse ends basically fell off when I pulled it.

Better put some spares in the glove box.

 

Thanks guys!



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 
4SPEED427


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It may not be a bad idea to put new bulbs in the back if they are old. One may have shorted out.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
cdnpont


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Good idea Carl, will do...I would not be surprised if a few of the rears are still centennial. I've never changed a bulb in the thing.



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 
4SPEED427


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The only problem with doing that is finding quality bulbs. Man I've dealt with some junky bulbs from jobber sources. Plug 'em in and poof.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
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cdnpont


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Now that you mention it Carl, yes, new bulbs are not what they used to be.

They are all on and working fine. Maybe the fuse just had enough after 50 years? So maybe leave well enough alone.. Wait see if it pops again.



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 
4SPEED427


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We've had the best luck with buying GM bulbs. Not sure who makes them but it's rare that we get a bad one.

They cost more but we're talking bulbs here, it's not a bank breaking deal to buy a few of them!

Yeah, the worst thing in the world is an intermittent blown fuse...

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
oshawacliff


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Consider LED bulbs Particularly for the rear

67_Impala_LED_bulbs_for_Tail_Lights__(1)_(2)[1].jpg

 

Just replace the bulb with this, you may need a ground wire also to complete the circuit.

 

 

20170415_132358[1].jpg

 Considerably more light to the rear.   I even mounted a 3rd brake light at the top of the rear window.  Picked the light up at a wrecking yard, off the roof of a Ch*v van  quite a few years ago. It still has the regular bulb.  

Cliff 

 



-- Edited by oshawacliff on Friday 30th of June 2017 10:09:16 AM



-- Edited by oshawacliff on Friday 30th of June 2017 10:14:18 AM

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Cliff

Done Hurryin

Like the larger type for my eyes. 

 

 
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