Parking Brake and Tail Light/Signal Light Issues

[mtnmax]

Hi All!

This is my first Post on this site.

After spending a few hours on the phone with a Painless Wire Tech trying to track-down a Battery Drain, which turned-out to be a wire in the Firewall Plug that got reversed during manufacture (not my fault!), I've FINALLY finished (for the most part) installing a new Painless Wiring Harness in my 78 CJ7 . However, I have a few 'loose wires' (pun intended) to sew up.

Firstly, the wire to the Parking Brake has never been connected since I've owned the Jeep. And now, I can't figure out where it connects so my Parking Brake Light on the Gauge Cluster (which has never worked until now) is always on. I've looked all over the Parking Brake mechanism and I can't find a place for a wire to connect anyplace. If anyone has a picture or a really good description of where this wire goes, I would be eternally greatful! I have a feeling the connector has broken off, hence the reason for the hanging wire. If my connector is gone, is there a place or method that I can connect the wire that will make the light go out?

Secondly, my Turn Signals work great during the day with the Headlights/Running Lights off, which is awsome because they've never worked right before. However, if I turn on the Headlights/Running Lights my Turn Sigals no longer work at all. Also, I'm not sure if this is related, but my driver's side Brake Light only works sometimes, spuradically, when it wants to. The Left Brake Light works fine. Any ideas on what's going on with this and how to fix it would be much appreciated as well.

Thanks in Advance!

Max

 

[dunebuggy18]

Hi All!

This is my first Post on this site.

After spending a few hours on the phone with a Painless Wire Tech trying to track-down a Battery Drain, which turned-out to be a wire in the Firewall Plug that got reversed during manufacture (not my fault!), I've FINALLY finished (for the most part) installing a new Painless Wiring Harness in my 78 CJ7 . However, I have a few 'loose wires' (pun intended) to sew up.

Firstly, the wire to the Parking Brake has never been connected since I've owned the Jeep. And now, I can't figure out where it connects so my Parking Brake Light on the Gauge Cluster (which has never worked until now) is always on. I've looked all over the Parking Brake mechanism and I can't find a place for a wire to connect anyplace. If anyone has a picture or a really good description of where this wire goes, I would be eternally greatful! I have a feeling the connector has broken off, hence the reason for the hanging wire. If my connector is gone, is there a place or method that I can connect the wire that will make the light go out?

Secondly, my Turn Signals work great during the day with the Headlights/Running Lights off, which is awsome because they've never worked right before. However, if I turn on the Headlights/Running Lights my Turn Sigals no longer work at all. Also, I'm not sure if this is related, but my driver's side Brake Light only works sometimes, spuradically, when it wants to. The Left Brake Light works fine. Any ideas on what's going on with this and how to fix it would be much appreciated as well.

Thanks in Advance!

Max

I have generally found that when you have multiple symptoms in the same area, focus on one symptom only - Usually it will lead you to the solution for the other issues as well. That said, I'd start with the intermittent brake light issue. 1) Is the light socket properly grounded? Loose ground connections will create all kinds of weird symptoms. 2) Do you have constant voltage when the brake is applied? If you move the wiring, does the voltage to the light remain constant or drop out? 3) Could it just be a bad bulb???

Start with that and let us know what you find. Then (if needed) you can tackle the next issue. I am sure someone else can chime in on the parking brake connection...

 

[mtnmax]

I hear ya on the bad ground. I was very careful when I installed the new harness to clean-up every ground conection with a wire brush. Even still, I will check the ground on that side. I don't think it can be a bad bulb because I replaced both Tail Light assemblies with new LED (which I really like, by the way, nice and bright) units. And since it works some of the time, I'm gonna rule that one out.

Anyone got a picture of their Parking Brake conection?