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Discussion Topic:
Baffling Brake Light Issue - Driver's Side
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mhsprecher |
09-11-2016 @ 6:19 PM
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Member
Posts: 51
Joined: Oct 2015
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I had a devil of a time with my tail lights on my 39. Getting a better ground at the tail light made all the difference in the world. I also bought new wires from Tyree Harris. I have turn signals, so that is different from what you have.
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40merccoupe |
09-11-2016 @ 4:52 PM
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Posts: 11
Joined: May 2010
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Have you tried replacing the brake light switch?
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Chascwell2 |
08-05-2016 @ 5:03 PM
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Member
Posts: 35
Joined: Feb 2014
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What kind of paint is on the fenders? Modern paint insulates between the fender and the body, try running a ground wire from the light attaching bolts to the vehicle frame.
chascwell
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anzael |
07-21-2016 @ 10:06 PM
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Posts: 5
Joined: Jul 2016
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Glad you've got it under c control now! Sounds to me like the vibration -while -driving caused the now older, weaker springs to break contact, and the shrink tubing now allows some improvement there. anzael.com
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len47merc |
06-25-2016 @ 7:09 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1165
Joined: Oct 2013
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Thanks Ken!
Steve
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ken ct. |
06-24-2016 @ 12:36 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1513
Joined: Jan 2010
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Steve , John Brillman Co. can duplicate your original wires in color and fabric if you wish. Hes reasonable and great to work with. Hes in Mt. Jackson Va. phone toll free 1-888-274-5562 or 1540-477-4112 . hes a custom Harness maker,know him well. ken ct.
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len47merc |
06-24-2016 @ 12:03 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1165
Joined: Oct 2013
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Thanks Tom and I agree with you. Because I never had to expose the wires under the plate before, and the prior owner (who inherited the car from an aunt who was the original owner) represented he never touched the car for the 3 years he drove it and the 35+ it was moth balled, I was stunned to see the insulation when sliding the insulation plate back. First and only wires I've ever seen on this '47 that were not woven and the correct color that I've ever come across. I also knew the wires should have been green and black woven from researching the wiring diagram in the Shop Manual and at Van Pelt, so someone must've changed these way - way back there. This said - ALAN - perhaps I can help you with your theory after all, albeit this 'repop' must've come from the 60's given the patina, dirt and road debris covering the wires underneath the car is consistent with that on the car's woven wiring harness which I've confirmed twice during Rouge judging to be the original. Was more than a bit embarrassed and disappointed I'd not caught this before and corrected it earlier, but under the mantra of full disclosure posted the pic anyway. Never had to go here so this one more than surprised me. I am researching a source for the original style. Going to change both while I'm at it, particularly given the crumbling state of the very aged insulation. This style is specific to the '46-'48 Mercurys. Thanks also Tom for the recommendations on the paint. I have no plans to remove the housing for the exact reason you stated. Steve
This message was edited by len47merc on 6-24-16 @ 12:10 PM
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TomO |
06-24-2016 @ 7:14 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7243
Joined: Oct 2009
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Steve, those do not appear to be the original wires. The original wires would have cloth covered insulation and the brake light wire insulation would be green. My suggestion is that you get the parts (wire, terminals and bullets) and use your old springs and insulating plate to repair the tail lights. Check the condition of the socket carefully to make sure that the bulb does not wobble in the socket and that it is firmly attached to the housing. I don't know how they painted your car, but be aware that removing the taillight housing from the car could damage the paint. The rubber gasket could be firmly attached to the paint and the housing and paint could peel when the housing is removed.
Tom
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len47merc |
06-23-2016 @ 3:05 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1165
Joined: Oct 2013
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For everyone - I've not been able to isolate the root cause here but after pulling it apart for the umpteenth time over the last several months I slid the insulating plate with springs back up the wires to test the terminal strength connection and the attached is what I found. Basically the ~70 year old wire insulation is falling apart along the full length of both wires. Whether this has anything to do with this brake light problem or not I do not know (the black wire is for the tail light) but I am going to suspend further work here and replace both sides with new (likely repops). Posting this in case anyone ever runs in to the same puzzling issue. Regards - Steve
This message was edited by len47merc on 6-23-16 @ 3:08 PM
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len47merc |
06-23-2016 @ 9:12 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1165
Joined: Oct 2013
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Do any of our sources sell the original style tail light harness as shown in the photos above? The few photos I've seen (example - C&G) show a different construction but perhaps they'll still 'work' yet not be original style. I strongly prefer staying original if at all possible. Any recommendations? Anything to steer clear of? Btw - Alan & Tom the terminals are rock solid, although the ~70 year old insulation on the wires under the insulating plate is starting to crumble badly with age. No sense in tinkering with this any further given what I found here.
Steve
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