No rear lights

Tiny
FRANZ
  • MEMBER
  • 1985 MERCURY MARQUIS
  • V8
  • 2WD
I have a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis and my brake and tail lights are not working. The directional lights only work sometimes.
When I step on the brake, the dash and the license plate lights come on. Any idea what may be the problem?
Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 4:43 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Older wiring diagrams are hard for me to read. In the diagram, the brown wire is voltage for tail lamps, the black wire is ground, the other wire is voltage for brake and turn. Brake and turn use same bulb filament, just not at the same time, they are wired through the turn signal switch. Did you check all applicable fuses, bulbs and bulb sockets. I'd have to check those wiring circuits to find out what is going on.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
FRANZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have checked bulbs and fuses and both are good. I have not checked the all the sockets at this time.

I was wondering, could this problem be either the headlight switch or the brake light switch?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 6:27 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Any fuse you check, you need to check for voltage also, use a voltmeter. Even if the fuse is good, if no voltage, the circuit is dead. Some fuse circuits are hot all the time, some go hot when you turn on the key. The voltage to your brake switch is usually hot all the time, check for voltage. The switch should be activated by the brake pedal arm.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, January 14th, 2011 AT 6:52 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links