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taillights staying on 1971 Demon #1357249 12/22/12 07:24 PM 12/22/12 07:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	Hey guys. I have a problem with my 1971 Demon. The tail lights are staying on and the only way to shut them off is to unhook the battery. If i take the socket out of the housing and ground it, the light gets brighter. Is this a sign of backfeeding and if so what can you advise me to do to fix it. Also, the marker lights are not on. Any advice would be great!

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357250 12/22/12 07:35 PM 12/22/12 07:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	The taillights are the small filaments in the 1157 bulbs & the brakes/turn signals/hazards all use the same large filament in that bulb. More info, which system is on/acting up right now & which filament is getting brighter? live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: RapidRobert] #1357251 12/22/12 07:44 PM 12/22/12 07:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	I went out and checked the bulbs. It is the taller filament in the bulb, 1157. When I turn the headlight switch on, the lights go off.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357252 12/22/12 07:51 PM 12/22/12 07:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	Could it be a simple thing like a headlight switch?

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357253 12/22/12 07:51 PM 12/22/12 07:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Is that filament the thicker or the thinner one? (I forget which one is the taller). We're working with the running lights (only) with the headlight switch being pulled out (on) correct? The brake lights/flashers/turn signals are OFF? live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357254 12/22/12 07:59 PM 12/22/12 07:59 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Pull the brake petal up with your hand and see if they go off.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: Challenger 1] #1357255 12/22/12 08:15 PM 12/22/12 08:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,471 So Cal autoxcuda Too Many Posts
autoxcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,471 So Cal	Quote: Pull the brake petal up with your hand and see if they go off. And check the brake switch to pedal contact under the dash.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: Challenger 1] #1357256 12/22/12 08:19 PM 12/22/12 08:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,012 indiana M mcmopars super stock
mcmopars super stock M Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,012 indiana	Quote: Pull the brake petal up with your hand and see if they go off. wouldnt that be brake light not tail light?

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: Challenger 1] #1357257 12/22/12 09:03 PM 12/22/12 09:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	They do not go off with the brake pedal or the e-brake ingauged. They dim with the dimmer switch though, like the dash lights do.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357258 12/23/12 12:02 PM 12/23/12 12:02 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: Could it be a simple thing like a headlight switch? it very well may be. Get at the pull apart connector behind the drivers kick panel & jump fire to the (3) wires for the taillights/the dr brake light/the pass brake light & if good there then button that all back up then pull the headlight switch connector & jump fire to the wire for the taillights & see if the thin filament in the taillights are lit. If all good that only leaves the headlight switch as you mentioned as the taillight circuit originates in & is powered from the headlight switch & plus the fact that the headlight rheostat dimmer switch circuit which should be going only to the dash lights is affecting the tailights further points to a bad headlight switch unless the wiring is majorly fubared live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: RapidRobert] #1357259 12/23/12 04:36 PM 12/23/12 04:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	Ok I will try some more tests to see. I happen to have a new headlamp switch, so if all tests point that way, I will change it and see for sure. Thanks again for the input.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357260 12/23/12 07:30 PM 12/23/12 07:30 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	Unplugged the brake light switch and something sparked and blew the fuse. Replaced the fuse and adjusted the switch, now no brake lights at all. Replaced the headlamp switch and that rendered nothing new either.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357261 12/23/12 11:23 PM 12/23/12 11:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	I'd go to the electrical pull apart connector behind the DR kick panel & jump fire to the running (tail) lights/the dr brake light/and the pass brake light & see if you're good in the rear. That'll direct you whether to work downstream or back up under the dash. www.mymopar.com will have the colors for you. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon [Re: RapidRobert] #1357262 12/24/12 12:41 AM 12/24/12 12:41 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	Quote: I'd go to the electrical pull apart connector behind the DR kick panel & jump fire to the running (tail) lights/the dr brake light/and the pass brake light & see if you're good in the rear. That'll direct you whether to work downstream or back up under the dash. www.mymopar.com will have the colors for you. Thanks for the help. I will do that tomorrow and see what I got.

Re: taillights staying on 1971 Demon *UPDATED* [Re: tripleblackcuda] #1357263 01/02/13 01:23 AM 01/02/13 01:23 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D. T tripleblackcuda OP super stock
tripleblackcuda OP super stock T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 998 Sturgis S.D.	Hey guys I found my electrical problem. There was a "pinched" or split wire leading to the fuse block, where all the wires run thru a clamp opposite the fuse side of the block. A friend and myself spent all day tearing and checking all the connections throughout the car. Thanks everyone for the help!

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