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Question -Dick, you are absolutely right there are seven leads coming off my new turn sig. switch. I'll list them by number 1 thru 7 and maybe that will make it a litter more clear. 1.This one does go to the parking light switch. It must be just to turn on parking lights. 2.Hot side of Battery. 3.Brake light switch. 4.RR brake light. 5.LR brake light. 6.RF parking light. 7. LF parking light.
Dick you have been so helpful, I really thank you for all your advice. Maybe at my age {68}I shouldn't be messing with this thing. But It's so much fun. I'm pretty sure I understand most everything now, I still wonder about the brake light switch. I crawled under and unhooked top wire on the switch and had my wife hold down the brake pedal and no light. I hooked it up again and it worked again. Is this the hot wire and should I cut bottom. I'm still a little confused about this. Everything else I feel pretty good about. Thanks again--Merv from Minnesota
AnswerWell, you're younger than me, and I'm still playing with these things, so don't give up yet!
You need to get some sort of test light or meter to tell which of the brake light switch terminals is the one that is hot all the time, if you cannot tell by what it is wired to. The one that is hot all the time is the one you have to leave alone, it's the other one (the one that now goes back to the rear lights) that you need to re-route through the turn signal switch. Can't you see where the wires go, and figure out which one goes where?
The test you made won't tell you which is which, because disconnecting either terminal is going to open the circuit to your brake lights - it is just a series switch, so taking either wire off will stop the current.
You really should have a test light or a meter anyway, if you are going to be playing with old cars. You'll use it so many times you'll be amazed you've lived all these years without one! You can buy a test light from any auto-parts place for a few bucks. It will come with a 12 volt bulb in it, but if your car is still 6 volts, you can also buy a 6 volt bulb for it and switch it over to 6 volt operation. KD tools makes a nice one - I bought mine at the local NAPA store. All it is is a simple small light bulb connected on one end to a clip lead, and on the other to a probe with a sharp tip, so you can ground the clip lead to the car body and poke at other stuff to see if it is hot. Try it - you'll like it. And since you're in Minnesota, you can use it to warm your fingers when winter sets in - just grab the bulb housing and poke the battery terminals!
Just kidding, of course
Dick Benjamin (Who moved from New Hampshire 44 years ago to be in sunny, warm, Southern California high desert country).
