QuestionI did notice in the trunk that the wire to the middle light bulb were cut and wires showing. I fixed that already but haven't checked under the car yet. when I would turn on the headlight switch the rear light would turn on and the brakes would work but later they would blow out. Now as soon as I put the fuse in it turns red and melts. Thanks for the info. Daniel
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Followup To
Question -
I got this 66 impala and im having problems with the rear brake and parking lights. The fuse keeps shorting out. I traced the wires to look for breaks or exposed wires but pound none. The two wires connected to the fuse box are Orange and Red. I followed the red and it goes to the horn relay. I followed the orange and it splits into about 6 or 7. I also notice the wiring to my ignition switch were messsed with. My question is What could be shorting my wires? Also what are the color of the wires that go to the ignition switch and were. the ignition switch has 5 plug. Batt, SOL, ACC, GRD, IGN. Thank you very much for your time. Daniel
Answer -
The usual cause for fuses blowing in the rear lighting circuit is that someone has had a trailer hitch on the car in the past, and added pigtail leads to operate the trailer lights, so inspect all around in the trunk and under the rear bumper area for the wires to the tail lights, license plate lights and brake/turn lights to see if there is any sign of fiddling with these wires. Usually, you will find some bare wire showing, and it will blow a fuse instantly if it contacts bare metal when the circuit is live.
There are separate fuses for the brake lights and parking/tail lights - they are on a totally different circuit, so your questions confuses me. Are you saying both fuses blow, or if only one, which one?. The brake and tail lights share a bulb, but the bulbs have two filaments in them, the bright one is on the brake light/turn signal circuit, and the dim one comes on with the parking or headlights - again, these are on different circuits/fuses.
As for the colors of the individual wires, that information is in your shop manual - if you don't have one, get one! It is essential for any kind of troubleshooting on any car. The auto literature dealers can help you with both an owner's manual and a shop manual - I use Ed Faxon at www.faxonautoliterature.com - but there are many others in the business.
I have shop manuals for many cars, but not for your car, so I can't answer your color question, sorry. (also, I happen to be color blind, so I pay no attention to the colors anyway!)
Neither of these lighting problems are involved with your ignition switch, although the ignition switch "ACC" position does supply power to the turn signals, which share the brake light filaments in the rear bulbs. However, I doubt your fuse blowing problems are related to any problem with your ignition switch. If your car starts and runs OK, and your radio goes on and off with the ACC position, your ignition switch is wired correctly, but as I said above, I can't help you with the colors.
Dick
AnswerOK, thanks for the update - I hope that cures it. By the way, the headlight switch being on has no effect on the brake lights - those are on a different circuit entirely (or at least are supposed to be!). The red lights that come on when you turn on the headlights are the tail lights, not the brake lights, although they are in the same light fixture, which may be confusing you.
Dick
