[&o]My 64 289 mustang with generator, convertible, has an electrical problem that I see as I need to replace the wiring. Maybe someone else has a better option here. There are no loose or broken or disconnected wires. If the headlights are turned on, the parking lights go out-front and back. The turn signals always work properly. Backup lights work when no lights are turned on. Brake lights do not work at all.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone had an easy and inexpensive solution to this ? money is tight this summer

Thanks for any advice

 

I suggest you get a wiring diagram from one of the mail order stores (National Part Depot $16 www.npdlink.com ). For your year car, it would be the '1964 1/2 Mustang Electrical Assembly Manual' which contains a complete diagram, several condensed diagrams for specific operations and how and where electrical items are located.
Jim

 

Could it be as simple as a bad switch?

 

Turn signals are on a different circuit than the head-lights and parking lights.

I'm guessing your headlight switch is either wired incorrectly or bad.

 

By design the parking lights go out when the headlights are on, so that part is funcioning normally.
I don't know about the backup lights working without the headlights, but it should be easy enough to trace a wiring diagram (there are links to diagrams in the FAQ section). IIRC back up lights were an option and I wouldn'tbe suprised to learn that Ford put a simple circuit in that doesn't run through the headlight switch.
The first place I would check for the brake lights is the switch, it looks like this
http://www.virginiaclassicmustang.co...2&catid=30
(The VaClassic site is the first site I found with a picture of the switch. I'm not recommending them, but will mention I've found their service to be very good.)
IIRC it is a pressure switch. The good news is the turn signals and brakes share a common filliment so the functioning turn signals gives hope that your turn signal switch is OK. (The brake lights are routed through the turn signal.)
HTH