1964 Brake Light Issues

Bill –
I am in the process of finishing up my restoration myself and have found problems with previously done work (no surprise there!!)
I have been searching your blog and that of the Lincoln Owners club and can’t get “relief” for my “problem”. And I have been pouring over circuit diagrams in the Maintenance manual in an effort to find a solution.
So here’s my “problem”:
The brake lights didn’t work so I replaced the brake light switch. Now when I press on the brake pedal the transmission selector dial light (on the steering column) turns on! But no brake lights. And at the same time, when I turn the headlights on, the transmission selector light does NOT turn on.
My research says that the power for the brake lights goes through the turn signal switch. Yet virtually everything else that connects to the turn signal switch works.
So I’m guessing wires are reversed in some way. But when I look at the circuit in the manual, page 15-6 FIG 1, I cannot determine where the transmission selector light wires could get “crossed” with the brake light wires. The black-blue wire that powers up the transmission selector light gets “lost” in the circuit diagram (up near the “CLOCK LIGHT” label) and of all the switches on that diagram, I don’t see the headlight switch which should power that transmission light circuit when turning the headlights on.
Any thoughts you might have on this would be helpful. I am trying to avoid uncovering the turn signal relay switch since the circuit diagram does not indicate that the wires could get crossed up there.
Thanking you in advance for your help on this
Steve
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Hello Steve –
Your issue as described is extremely rare as there is a multitude of wires that can be crossed or wrongly installed. You must have received this 1964 Lincoln in this condition. Your description and information on this problem is quite helpful.
There is a multi connector at the lower area of the steering column that directs the PRNDL bulb wire ( blue and black) and the Brake light wire (green) along with other wires up the column to the PRNDL bulb and the T.S. Switch. It is at this connector that these two wires could possibly have been interchanged inside of one side of the two sides of this connector. This is where I would begin to carefully examine the wiring. If all checks out ok at this connector, the feed from the B.L. switch and the PRNDL bulb can be tested with a test light at this location as well. At this time and because this exact problem is so rare, this is the best information that I can provide without further diagnosis information on your part. Good luck on a speedy repair and please keep us posted.
Sincerely
Bill
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Bill –
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!. I have been pouring over circuit diagrams and have been reluctant to just start tearing into “things”. And this answer makes a lot of sense. And as a further check on this I turned the headlights on and virtually all the interior lights associated with “headlights on” came on EXCEPT the shift indicator light. And when I depressed the brake pedal that light also came on. But the stop lights never came on. And with head lights off, depressing the brake pedal again turned on the shift position light , but no other interior lights. So I feel pretty good about your suggestion.
A third party started restoration on this car several years ago and gave up because of the cost. I’m so close I can taste it J
Again thanks!
Steve
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Bill,
You correctly assessed this problem. Everything works as it should.
Thanks so much!!!
Steve
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Steve –
Thanks for the update. Excellent to hear that you found the problem and in a short time also.
Bill