Mysterious left tailight failure

[e p slick]

Left tail light quit working. I have power to other light sockets, but not tail light bulb socket itself, in Left tail light assembly. Right tail light, turn signal and back up light work properly. Only thing I can guess at this point other than broken wire which is very highly unlikely is a light switch malfunction. Does it make any sense that light switch could send power to right tail light but not to left tail light socket?

Dazed and confused in the desert.

EP Slick - Tucson

[HawgRyder]

The method of construction inside the taillight itself is such that the wire connects to the tab and then the tab is riveted to the socket...thus having a joint inside the socket itself.
I have found old sockets in cars of various makes where the tab and flat piece of metal no longer make electrical contact inside the socket.
What I usually do is solder (resin core please) the tab extension to the springy contact inside the socket so that the rivet is no longer the carrier of power to the bulb.
It wouldn't hurt to do all of the contacts while you are in there.
I sold my 69 recently...equipped with brand new old stock taillights....but took the time to solder all of the riveted joints before installing them.
If in doubt...will probably save you from the dreaded "back road no lights syndrome"....LOL
Bob

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by e p slick

Left tail light quit working. I have power to other light sockets, but not tail light bulb socket itself, in Left tail light assembly. Right tail light, turn signal and back up light work properly. Only thing I can guess at this point other than broken wire which is very highly unlikely is a light switch malfunction. Does it make any sense that light switch could send power to right tail light but not to left tail light socket?

Dazed and confused in the desert.

EP Slick - Tucson

Here's the wiring diagram for our '86.

You will need to print, then cut & paste.

Hope this helps.

Gerry

[DRACO A5OG]

Open up the light assembly and take a look at the PCB board type contacts, mine broken in half and shorted out my brake light.

I used piece of plastic and jb weld and all is well:

[e p slick]

Left tail light quit working. I have power to other light sockets within the tail light/stoplight/back up light housing, but not the individual tail light bulb socket itself. I now see from wiring diagram that member Gerry sent that there actually two brake light switches. I am about to dive in, locate them and determine if that is where the problem originates. I wonder, however, WHY TWO SWITCHES?

EPS

[Bob Kontak]

See if there is power for the lights at the connector at the back corner of the engine compartment. May save you some time if the problem is other than downstream of that point.

Here is the pin out on my SC facing the female socket in the wall.

12:00 Tail lights
2:00 Not used on drivers side - oil level sender on passenger side.
4:00 reverse
6:00 Tail lights
8:00 Brakes
10:00 Blinker

[e p slick]

Thanks for the input. I have discovered that there is a problem with early stop light switch death syndrome (ESLSDS) and subsequently found extensive Pelican site thread(s). Still lost but probably heading toward the light.

Thanks for the help.

EP Slick - Tucson