Posted by Eric B. on Tuesday, September 10, 2002 at 9:20AM :
In Reply to: MY TAIL LIGHTS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY! posted by Jason in Utah on Tuesday, September 10, 2002 at 1:17AM :
Ok, taillights on a 58 with a pickup bed, the wiring was the same(with minor exceptions that do not matter here), D100-D300, and W100-W300, so there is no mystery about your trucks.
There were two lights on the back, one on each side see the above picture.
These buckets use a 1157 bulb, so they are both brake and running lights, the turn signal works as part of the same system.
If you look at your factory service manual on page 35, Fig. 49 Express(with class "B" turn signals) this is what you follow.
There are three wires coming back from the front of the truck, and two wires from each taillight.
I have repaired the wiring on two if these in the last couple of months, and it is a bit of a pain to figure out. Once I got it right, I just copied the setup on the other truck, nothing could be more simple!
Now for the real trick, all of this system REQUIRES the turn signal switch to be in the loop and working correctly. If it is not, you will not even get brake lights. If you do not have the original turn signal switch, or it is disconected, then you will need to put it back in the system, or figure out on your own how to wire in some other turn siganl switch.
Basicly the power for the tailights goes into the turn signals, and then comes back out to the brake lights. Fun huh?
Good luck, and let me know if you need more help, this may require a phone call, as I could spend days trying to explain how it all ran.
Eric