Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks


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When the truck is on a lift everything works fine, when it is put back on the ground...no brake light or turn signals.

None of the wires are pinched or frayed...

Any ideas on what is going on????


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Is this a frame lift hoist or a drive on? If it is a frame lift then there is a possibility that with a load on the wheels, there is a wire somewhere that is being pinched.

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glyn, it is a frame lift. Checked and none of the wires are pinched when lifted... :confused:

Thanks.


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Grease Monkey
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check for a good ground on the box. may need a wire ran between the box and the frame

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Oil Can Mechanic
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could it be a wire isn't pinched but the conductor is broken internally so when the truck sits the wire moves and loses contact? good luck


Chevrolet

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I vote for a bad ground. Take a piece of wire strip both ends touch one end to the frame and the other end to a bare metal spot on the tail light housing if the lights work than its a bad ground.

Gary

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Thanks guys, will try what you suggested.


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Let us know how you make out

Gary

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I cut out the old connectors and put in all new butt connectors and that solved the problem; thanks for all of the help, I think Dads 31 was right about what was causing the problem, thanks.

Now If I can find the gas leak we will get back on the road…if it isn’t one thing it is something else……..

Thanks again guys, have a great week.


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Hey Louis, thats my line...Oscar the Grouch yipp


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Sorry about that...LOL

One of the great things about our hobby is that you NEVER run out of things that need or must be done.

Keep the shiny side up.


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Oil Can Mechanic
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"There is no greater satisfaction than a job well done!" especially when it comes to electrical problems.

a long time ago I reserved crimp on terminals for emergency temporary repairs. a good solder joint and heat shrink tubing will be trouble free.


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Cool, thanks again.


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Dads 31
I agree with you about the soldered electrical joints in most cases but there are times when a quick disconnect is needed. So long as those dreaded "scotchloks" arent used. They have caused me more headaches than I care to remember.
Tony


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I don't see any reason for me to use a quick disconnect in this situation; until I get the gas leak solved I don't want to solder under the cab and gas tank.

Tony, you might want to post something in the Gen. Dis. area about the problem you have had with "scotchloks" so others can avoid this product.

Have you had any problem with butt connectors?


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I have only had 1 problem many times, BAD connection. Butt connectors can give the same problem but no where near as often.
Tony


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I have found those "Scotchlocks" to be totally useless in many cases as well.

:( mad mad


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"Scotchlock" (brand name by 3M) or wire nuts are not made for automotive use, and if they are it should be only temporary and there must be a strain relief used on the splice to prevent any pulling of the wires at the splice. As an electrician I have used several thousand of them and find the only time there is problem is when the installer does not use them correctly, as far as the correct size, tightness, splice, amount of wire, and location. Every house has a few hundred wirenuts located throughout, and they never fail, because they are in somewhat of a stable environment. In my Grandfathers (also an electrician)days all splices were soldered, and has become a lost art in my trade, but there is no need to do this in that type of wireing. I have used them in cars and never had a problem. The best way is to use a solder connection in automotive use, and that takes a little more skill than a wire nut.
John


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John......what you are saying is absolutely true, and I don't use wire nuts on automotive applications.....just crimp on butt connectors. The "Scotchlocks" that I was talking about are those connectors that are used for splicing one wire into another continuous wire. The "Scotchlock" has blades that push down and splice into the two wires to join them together and then there is a cover that folds over and snaps into place. I have purchased this type of "Scotchlock" in auto parts stores and they apparently are used for automobile applications. I haven't had much success with these things doing the job that they were intended to do unfortunately. I actually prefer the soldering method as you mentioned.

:( :( :(


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I have used Scotchlocks as a "quickie" method to connect trailer wire connectors but that is all I ever saw that they are good for.
I like to use the round male -female crimp on connectors to power a CB, that isn't a permanent installation. They work well I reverse one wire in a two wire connection, that way you can't hook the CB power lead to ground.
I won't use crimp on connectors, that big old plastic ring looks yucky. I have some on the cars I bought already "fixed up" and I change them out with soldered terminals whenever I disconnect them. I have cut the plastic off and soldered the wire into them.
I prefer the solder on old timey terminals for permanent use, Crimp ons don't look very good to me on an older car (before 1970) and on cars newer than 1970 you usually can just "Plug & Play!"

As for wirenuts I like them both in the house and in the car and on trailers, they are a better connection than most cold connectors, if properly sized and installed,but under dash or where they don't show, and for wires that don't have any strain issues. I have used many of them under ground and in valve boxes for sprinklers, with a good dab of silicone goop.


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If you have such problems it might help to check the car when inside a garage and with very little light on. We had a bad connection inside the wired ignition near to the distributor, and the unwanted spark was impossible to see in daylight. In the "night" light, we both "saw and heard" the error,so we managed to find where to mend it much faster.


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Have a nice day!

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"Now If I can find the gas leak we will get back on the road…if it isn’t one thing it is something else……."

Oh, that's easy.......
First light a match, then..... HEY, I'M KIDDING crazy :grin:

chevy -Bob


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