Let's see if I have this straight.  The long and short is the brake light switch only gets power to one side when the turn switch is centered but the turn signals will operate the brake/turn filament on either side.  Izzat right?  what about when you have the turn sig working on one side will the brake pedal light up the opposite brake light...both ways or is there always one side that will not work from the brake pedal?  This sounds like a bad TS switch which would not be surprising with the crap we get these days.

BB

Well, I don't know if it's a protocol but you could easily check output at the column connector to see if the brake light wire from the TS switch is getting voltage and under what conditions.  If one side never gets voltage from the brake light switch, I'd say that's a bad TS switch.  gotta be.  If both Brake/turn wires from the TS switch get power when pushing on the pedal, then there's a crappy connection or bad wire from the column connector.  One step at a time, start at the source and keep tracing until it disapears, then you should know the culprit.  May not be the switch but it just about has to be if both turns work.  Brake lite power from the brake light switch isn't getting switched through the TS switch.  Seems to me.

BB

Sorry about the slow responses, but apparently I didn't get the memo.  The rest of this week has been declared honey-do time by swmbo.

I'll update when I get back in the garage.

Bullet Bob wrote:

Gee...I NEVER had that problem....what about you, Walt?

 

Nope, Brenda lets me do what I want when I want. OK everybody lift there feet, its getting deep around here.

BobN, good suggestion but I've already been there.  I've determined that I'm not getting power to both of those leads coming from the turn signal switch.  Only on one side, and that's where the light works.  I've found and ordered an NOS Ford switch and am waiting for it to come in, which coincidentally gives me a day or two to finish my chore list for the week.

Back in a couple of days when I get the new turn signal switch installed.

Thanks for letting us know, Jimj.  Funny thing about NOS....if some 10 year old asian girl put it together ten years ago but it never sold...well, that's new-old-stock.  They just don't tell you who's NOS you are getting.  Crap...all we get is crap any more.

BB

Update:  Yesterday all tested well, turn signals, brake lights and park lights.  All worked like a new car, and I patted myself on the back, prematurely it turns out.

Today, I took a break from honey-do's, hooked the battery back up and one brake light was out.  Nothing had touched the car in the previous 24 hours.  No power from the column to one side of the two wire connector to the brake lights.  Said a few choice words, mumbled an ancient witch doctor curse and rattled some chicken bones I keep in the garage just for these times.

Went back to yard work, cleaned up and ate dinner, and decided to check the brake lights again.  Voila, they worked.  Nothing is changing guys, nothing.  I'm about ready to hang a for sale sign on this d**m thing and move it on down the road.  Anyone want a 1965 Fastback with a 331 stroker, TKO600 tranny and all the goodies, but with only one brake light?

Seriously, I can find and fix a solid fault, but these intermittent electrical issues really test my patience.  It's time to throw the car cover over it and forget about it for a few days (or weeks).

Jimj
I feel the same way. About two weeks ago I wanted to change out the bulbs in the dash for brighter ones. Took off the instrument panel replaced the bulbs replaced the panel hooked up the battery and the entire wiring harness melted. Sparks and all. Thought I was going to have to shoot the old pony because she went down. I am now having to replace the entire harness.
I can rebuild a car from the ground up but I HATE DOING THE WIRING!
I would pay someone to come over and finish my wiring problem just so I didn't have to do it.
Did I mention I HATE wiring!