Brake light problem

[BlackGTS]

I can't get the brake lights to work.The bulbs are new and there is power to the back.

The brake light switch had a bright green wire on the end that moves and there was no power to it so I am assuming it is a ground.I attached a wire with constant power to the other prong but still no brake lights.When the pedal is pushed down allowing the plastic piece to move and the bright green wire touches the bracket the both wire have power.

The switch looks simple enough but I am not sure how it works.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,Dave

[GON_RACIN]

are you trying to get the brake lights to work with the bulb socket plugged into the tail light housing?  the tail light housing is used as a ground for the bulbs, so the bulbs wont light up if you dont have them plugged into the housing.  have you checked for 12 volts at the bulb sockets??

[BlackGTS]

Yes they are plugged in.The taillights and turn signals work.

[Jim_Lusk]

If the turn signals work the wire is good to the back as this is the same filament as the brake lights. Do you have a wiring diagram?

[sr71mopar]

 I had a Mutang with so much rot I had to run extra gounds.

[Midnight Special]

At the back there are several ground straps besides grounding on the "Metal" recepticle.  I'd check my ground strap which are going to the trunk "lick support.  My wire was broken there and just took a new fitting

[71 demon child]

the last two posts sound  very likely.every time i 've had a wiring problem of thet nature ,power with no reaction it's been mostly a ground problem.make sure your not trying to use a single fillament bulb in a double fillament socket or vice versa.sounds too simple to be true but i've seen it happen(usually that just causes it to light and then blows out everything).good luck!

[mopartranman]

If i remember correct..... And correct me if i'm wrong. But wont a bad turn signal switch can cause them not to work?

[71 demon child]

i guess that is  a good  possibility mopartranman i don't get to work a whole lot on the older cars.i see alot of fleet vehicles and on all those brake lights are ran through a seperate circuit with a brake switch.not super familliar with 60's and 70's cars.sorry for butting in but let me know black dart i need a little more education on this old muscle.

[doug 371]

like mopartransman said its probably the signal light switch...had that problem with my fury

[Ed]

Ever say what you're working on, year, model? 

[Lars]

Not to sound like an ass, but you did check the fuse right? Can't remember if the brake lights had their own fuse or if somthing else was tied into them.

[Cudadust]

I have a similiar problem, te brake ligt fuse will work for a undetermined time thenthe fuse will blow.  When the fuse blows the dome light and brake lights will not work.