No brake lights or rear flashers

I pulled my bumper and tail lights to paint the back panel and tonight, when I put it all back together and had my wife stand back there....No brake lights. I had them before I took it all apart (at least I think I did). Checked the flashers and the front ones work and the ones in the dash work but not the rear.
I pulled the brake pedal switch and cleaned the contacts but still nothing. Any thing else I can check that would make both the brake lights and flashers not work? Oh and the light bulbs are brand new.

Thanks

 

Since you painted, the light housing probably isn't grounded to the body anymore. On mine I ran ground wires from the tail light's metal housing to a spot on the trunk latch reinforcement that I made bare.

 

Hmm, could be. I pulled the lights completely out and painted the whole back panel (exterior), then put them back on. I cant do anything for the next 8 hours because of work. Really wanted to drive it work today
If that was the problem would the taillights and reverse lights still work? Hope I can get this fixed. I have 2 car shows to cruise to this weekend.

Thanks for the idea. I'll give it a try!

 

didn't see where he painted them...
the brake lights and flashers are on the same circuit...check the fuse.

My Mom lives in...Sanford N.C., I was stationed at Bragg...

 

I was wondering about the fuse also but the front flashers and dash flashers are working.

Now that I think about it, as far as the turn signals, in the back only the side markers are flashing...not the tail light flashers. Also, and Im not sure how it works back there, but if the tail light filiment is supposed to brighten when i hit the brakes, that is not happening either....

So to sum it up, no rear flashers, no brake lights, and no tail light turn signals (but rear side markers work).


71 gold, if you ever get back to fayetteville or sanford area, get in touch. not too many maverick guys around here (Ive only met 1 other)

 

I don't think they are suppose to flash...loose ground in the back harness...

 

And they are not supposed to. I bet they are also flashing "opposite" to the front (when the front is illuminated, the rear side markers aren't). This is definitely a GROUNDING issue. Make sure (like others have said) that you have good, clean, bare-metal contact from your tail light housings to your lightbulb sockets and inside the sockets themselves. If you painted the car, be sure the ground wires are secured (via the screws) to a bare metal spot on the car.

 

find anything yet...

 

Not yet....I only had a chance to try a ground wire from the left side housing to the body. Still nothing. Thats all I had time to do, because my son and I went to a local cruise in. I just had him follow me. If it is a grounding issue, and the housing is not grounding, would the tail lights and reverse lights still work. Also wondering if the brake light switch at he pedal is bad but if the flashers are out also (in the rear) does that rule out he switch. I should have more time today to work on it.
I do appreciate all the input

 

Ok...when I pull the tail light/brake light socket out of the housing, the tail light goes out (no ground). When I touch a ground wire from the chassis directly to the socket the tail light comes back on. But nothing from the flashers or brakes when i do the same thing. So it seems like it may not be a grounding issue???

 

it has to be grounded to work run a new ground wire check the filaments in the bulbs to make sure they are not broken remove the bulbs and clean the contacts and make sure they line up with the bulbs invest in a test light if you have power back there it could only be a connection or the ground or you have put the wrong bulbs in the sockets single contact bulbs go in single contact sockets dual contact bulbs take dual contact sockets and check the front turn signal bulbs if they light up but won't blink a filament may be blowed hope this helps

 

Tried 2 sets of new bulbs (1157). I grounded the housing to the chassis. Plus I ran a ground wire directly from the socket to the chassis with the socket pulled out of the housing, which will light up the tail light with it out of the housing. I've also ruled out the brake light switch by jumping the contacts together.

Ive seen it mentioned that it could be the turn signal switch? I replaced that about a month ago and both turn signals work on the inside, the front and the rear side markers. But not the rear turn signal itself (along with brake lights and rear flashers).

Starting to get flustered. I can do without the flashers, but not the brake lights.
Im willing to try any ideas. Is there a "brake light" fuse?

 

The one thing in common with the brakes and turn signals is that they both go through the turn signal switch.

 

Are you sure they were working before the paint job? 2 things to check, #1- go through the wiring harness in the trunk area to check for any obvious breaks in the wires. #2 - try moving the hazard switch in and out several times. Sometimes this will get a bad connection or it may be partially engaged by bumping it. I believe there is a harness plug under the carpet by the drivers seat, but I'm not sure of it's exact location. I'm also sure that many other members know where this plug is, as they have gutted their interiors. Check #'s 1 and 2 first ( easy ) and if that fails look for the plug ( not so easy).

 

OK...Update...and I dont know if this helps or not.

Honestly, Im not 100% sure if they worked right up until the time I pulled the housing and painted.

This is what I am seeing right now.

With the socket in the housing...left and right turn signals flash, tail lights work.

With the socket removed from housing and not grounded, left and right turn signals flash but on the opposite filament than when i ground the socket.

Turn signals will work when key is turned to on position but not when key is off (normal I assume)

Flashers----
Flashers do not work in back, but.....if I have the key turned to off or completely out of car and flashers on, and turn the signal to left or right, the corresponding tail light will flash????

Brakes----Brake lights do not light up, but....when i have flashers on and they are flashing in the dash and I press the brakes. The flashers in the dash will stop flashing and stay lit.

So, something is not right somewhere. Both bulbs work and both filaments will light depending on what I do. All I want is brake lights!

Oh replaced the brake light switch. Now my back, shoulders and right elbow hurt