'65 convertible.

We did some small electrical changes recently, electric fan, radio/speakers, new headlight switch, LED lights for the instrument cluster. We just noticed yesterday that the right brake light won't come on. We tried switching the left bulb with the right and putting in a new bulb, but no difference. The tail lights come on (l & r), the turn signals work (l & r), but only the left brake light comes on when the pedal is depressed. Could this be a brake switch problem on the brake pedal? I replaced it ten years ago but the car has not been run much until this year.

John
Honolulu

 

This is a curious problem, since the turn signals are just the brake lights flashing.

The problem can't be the brake switch, since it gives juice to both or neither. Usually, when the turn signal switch goes, you can't get either brake light to work, so your situation is not common. I hesitate to say buy a new turn signal switch, but often, the switch does go bad. I'd do some diagnostics focused on the switch to see if that is the cause or not.

Of course, check the local ground at the problem light, since bad grounds are the usual culprit. Also, make sure the socket is free of corrosion.

 

Thanks MB, we rechecked the ground and other connections and it was the electrical "cap" connector to the back of the taillight socket assembly that was not making good contact. A little contact cleaner and trimming some of the rubber off the cap finally gave us a good circuit.