Brake light problems

[NapaDave]

I've already searched this on several sites. My 73 has no brake lights. I have replaced all the fuses and replaced boththe headlight and turn signal switches. Headlights and tailights work great and are super bright (for a Z) but still no brakelights. I have also replaced the brake light switch which was fried closed and it works fine. Should their be any voltage at this switch? I have chased wires until I'm totally frustrated. This car has sat for 15 years and I am in the process of resurrecting it. So the brakelights have never worked while I had it. Hazards don't work eaither!!

I'm open to any ideas.

[EScanlon]

Check your turn signals also. If they also, do not work then your problem is more than likely where the three circuits come together. The combination switch.

Hope this helps.

[NapaDave]

Sorry should have said in post turn signals work great. Just adds to my frustration! Tirn signal switch is brand new from British Victoria here in Kansas City. It helped lights considerably.

[EScanlon]

After the Combi Switch, the next place that the Brake and Turn Signal lights are still mixed is at the Hazard Flasher Switch.

Have you checked this out? Also check your Hazard Flasher, this is separate from the one for your turn signals. You'll find one by the steering column and the other on the passenger kick panel.

Since you mention that the stop lamp switch was "burned out" I would start tracing wiring to ensure that it isn't burn and shorted.

The White / Red or White / Black wires are the same ones at the combination switch as they are at the tail lights, and they are the ones that you would be using.

Hope this helps.

Enrique

[ZmeFly]

is your grounds for the brake lights.

[NapaDave]

I have already tried a couple of different hazard switches. I own a 71 Z also and my stepson owns a 72. It appears that the issue is still in the combi switch somehow as I get no power to the hazard switch at all. That is with key on or off. AS I understand the wiring diagrams I should have power to the hazard switch.

I already replaced both the turn signal and hazard flashers. I will do some more tacing tomorrow but I haven't found anything so far in tracing the wires. I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

[NapaDave]

Thought it might be a ground problem so reworked all the grounds. Again it helped the brightness of the tailights and turn signals but was no help on the brakelights or hazards. Great suggestion though!

[Zs-ondabrain]

well I'm miffed, but heres my two cents worth........

lets start over, shall we?

lets start at the brake light switch at the peddle,

YES, there should be power at the brake light switch at all times.

I believe it is a green w/ a white stripe.

If there is no power there, your problems just became minimal

fixing from this point is as easy as a 16 guage wire from the battery or a very good power source within the car, with an inline 15-amp fuse, then to the switch on the peddle

(+)---------(15A fuse)-------------(brake light switch)

now the bad news...

if there is power at the switch, it goes directly to the turn signal switch on the column.

the brake wire is split into two sides at the turn signal switch,----which tells me that the problem is gotto be here or before,

because if both lights are not working, the problem is most likely before the splitting of the brake wire at the switch.

find the brake light wire at the switch then run an ohms meter from there, to the rear of the car.

check both left and right tail lights

and that is all that really consists of the brakes I think????

Unless they run through the flasher.......

[Zs-ondabrain]

I'm just working off the top of my head so bare w/ me if I slide off track or don't get my facts exactly straight.

you said youve checked or replaced the hazard switch many times, have you checked power to the switch?

when you build something, you work forward,

when you diagnose something, you work backwards.

If there should be power at the hazard and there is not, work from there.

I know that you are reading this and saying "duh Dave, we're not stupid, we already tried that".

But I'm just rambling and trying to help myself remember, as well.