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Discussion Topic:
Brake Lights
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JKrieger1976 |
06-15-2018 @ 7:30 AM
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Member
Posts: 20
Joined: May 2018
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Hi All, The sheriff came again today to inspect the Mercury. He found the vin number, checked the headlights, and taillights, the horn, and I thought I was Home Scott free, until he said “tap the brake”. I did and he advised me the brake lights didn’t work and failed the inspection and left. Question 1. Did these cars have working brake lights that became brighter when true brake was pushed? Question 2. How should I troubleshoot this problem? UPDATE- the brake lights work if the taillights are not turned on. If the car is just sitting, depressing the break will illuminate the tail lights. If however you turn on the headlights and tailigjts at the switch, there’s no difference in the light when the brake is applied. Should there be? Thanks as always for helping a newbie
This message was edited by JKrieger1976 on 6-15-18 @ 9:08 AM
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cliftford |
06-15-2018 @ 3:39 PM
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Senior
Posts: 845
Joined: Jan 2014
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Question 1, no. Question 2, look for previous posts on this subject, this has been dealt with before. Good luck.
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TomO |
06-16-2018 @ 8:01 PM
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Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009
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Take out one of the bulbs and look at the pins that hold the bulb in the socket. If they are spaced the same distance from the base, you have no. 1158 bulbs. It is possible to put these bulbs upside down and the result would be what you are seeing. The bulb should have the word "top" printed on the base. insert the bulb so that it will be on top when you twist the bulb in place. If the pins are offset from the base, the bulb is a 1154 and the wiring may be reversed at the tail light. Check that the green wire from the brake switch is connected to the green wire coming from the tail light. If neither of these fix your problem, update the post and I will try to help you some more.
Tom
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JKrieger1976 |
06-25-2018 @ 7:03 PM
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Member
Posts: 20
Joined: May 2018
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Tom, when i pull the end of the bezel off, this is what I see. The wires are old and fragile. I am assuming the the way to get the light changed is to loosen that little screw and pull the light out? I see the bulb inside and I bought new bulbs and a new pressure switch from bob drake. As it stands now, the brake lights work just fine when the car is running without power to the head and taillights, but when you turn the taillights on and depress the brake, there’s no change. I appreciate any help
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TomO |
06-26-2018 @ 7:13 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009
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Removing the rear facing lens will give you access to removing the bulb. The nut that is shown in your photo is quite rusty and may break if you try to remove it. Before you remove the rear lens, try clipping a jumper wire to a good frame ground, such as the bolt that holds the bumper brace and touch the other end to the bulb housing, when the brake light and head lights are on. If the light gets brighter, you have a grounding problem and will have to find a way to remove that nut and clean the corrosion from the bracket and housing. If the light does not get brighter, the bulb may be in upside down. Maybe a 1939 Mercury owner will chip in with his experience with replacing the bulbs.
Tom
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fordmerc |
06-26-2018 @ 1:11 PM
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New Member
Posts: 180
Joined: Oct 2009
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I can confirm that Tom O is correct: removing the rear-facing lens allows access to the lamp.
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fordmerc |
06-27-2018 @ 6:22 AM
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New Member
Posts: 180
Joined: Oct 2009
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If needed, I have images that might help in removal of the lens to more easily access the lamp. Let me know (I would have attached them but I'm not sure how to do that.)
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TomO |
06-27-2018 @ 7:25 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009
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You may attach one photo to each reply by clicking on BROWSE next to IMAGE ATTACHMENT at the bottom of the REPLY box. This will open a window with files on your computer, select a photo and then click open. To attach another photo, click on REPLY and do the same procedure over again.
Tom
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JKrieger1976 |
06-27-2018 @ 10:21 AM
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Member
Posts: 20
Joined: May 2018
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Yes please. I would appreciate the images
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fordmerc |
06-27-2018 @ 11:09 AM
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New Member
Posts: 180
Joined: Oct 2009
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The attached image is pre-restoration and shows the larger (upper) bracket to hold the lens in place for the taillamp
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