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Chodel
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 46
Location: Louisville, co
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 Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject: Brake Light Problem |
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My 79 bus has just developed a brake light problem. When i brake, the passenger tail light turns on the running light. By that i mean, it only gets as bright as if i had the running lights on. Now when i turn on the running lights, both tail lights are on like they should. But when i brake with the running lights on, the right tail light turns off, and the Left turns on the brake light. Has anybody had this happen before? Does anybody got any Ideas?
Here is a video i made of the problem
Link
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1979 VW Transport
Last edited by Chodel on Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:59 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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energyturtle
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2012
Posts: 73
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Have you taken the tail lights out of their housing and made sure all wires are connected properly and in good shape? That would be the first step I took to remedy the issue. |
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Chodel
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 46
Location: Louisville, co
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Not yet, but could a loose or damaged wire in the housing cause the running light to turn on instead of the brake light?
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1979 VW Transport |
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Waves2day
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2008
Posts: 408
Location: Bay Area, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Also check the ground wires in the engine bay on the problem side(right near the tailight housing). Does the blinker make them all flash and or dim on the right side?
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Sam
1976 Westfalia Camper Pop-top
1972 Westfalia Hardtop (sold) |
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Chodel
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 46
Location: Louisville, co
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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No the blinkers work fine, and don't dim the other lights.
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1979 VW Transport |
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cc79westie
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2007
Posts: 467
Location: Greenport, N.Y.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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I had similar trouble with my 79 Westy. Brake lights, directional and hazards were starting to do all kinds of crazy things. Checked the grounds more then once. I ended up buying a pair of repop tail light assemblies with the housing included. The original housings pretty much fell apart in my hands when I was attempting to clean the connections on them. All is back to normal again.
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1979 Westfalia (Sage Green)
1966 Pontiac GTO
1977 Chevy Monza 5.0 V-8
1984 Datsun/Nissan 300ZX
1989 Plymouth Reliant K |
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Chodel
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2013
Posts: 46
Location: Louisville, co
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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The bulb holder for the brake/running light bulb was the culprit. The prongs that hold it to the assembly were broken. Everything works light it should now.
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1979 VW Transport |
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energyturtle
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Joined: February 05, 2012
Posts: 73
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 5:41 am Post subject: |
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| Fantastic. Glad I could help. Good work. I've learned the hard way to not over think. Start with simple and never assume the obvious is not the culprit. If it worked and nothing has changed when it comes to electrical connection are 99% the issue. Good job. |
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