1967 Mustang - Break lights not working

Trish · 03-14-2005, 02:58 PM

My brakes, running, reverse and dash lights have quit working on my 67 Mustang. The headlights and turn signals all work. I looked at the fuse box and all appear to be okay. In the Chilton's manual it appears that something may be wrong with the light switch assembly but I can still turn the switch and the inside lights come on.

Can anyone please help me?!?!?!

Paul 69 Mach I · 03-14-2005, 07:14 PM

Trish
It sounds like the dash board head light switch. I had a similar problem. The old one seemed OK. I took it out & it fell apart in my hands. NPD has the switch. You might also have some dash gauge problems. Before you start chasing ground wires replace the circuit board & lights on the gauges. It would have saved me a lot of time.

Trish · 03-15-2005, 10:51 AM

Thanks you so much Paul!!!! The weather is getting lovely down here in Alabama and I can't take my baby out for a spin!

Kisner · 03-15-2005, 01:38 PM

The "first" thing you need to do (I did it last after 2 months of trying to solve the problem) is remove the fuse controlling those lights and sand off any surface rust on the contacts. That fixed my problem (after I replaced everything else).

Trish · 03-16-2005, 09:45 AM

Thanks Kisner!!! I am going to start working on her tonight. I will do the fuse box first (a LOT easier) and then the switch. I will let you guys know. I started pricing the under dash wiring set just in case neither works. Good God, they are mighty proud of their wires!!! ha!
Thanks guys!!

Paul 69 Mach I · 03-16-2005, 06:14 PM

Trish, My rule of thumb with fuel problems and electrical problems is REPLACE IT! Ford never intended your 67 to still be on the road 38 years later. The parts were not made & never intended to last that long. I've watched a friends Camero turn into a burning ember on the side of the road after he "fixed" a electrical problem the easy way. I was also at a cruise night when a Nova who's owner "fixed" a fuel problem turn into a crispy critter.
My son decided he wanted a classic. It needed a new motor. We took the motor out & replaced all the wiring bumper to bumper. Yes, wiring is expensive. But after putting in new wiring several problems magically corrected themselves. In the long run it saved money.
Don't be afraid to replace the dash harness yourself. Pull the dashboasd & route the new harness alongside the old one. Start from the far side & unhook one plug at a time into the new harness. That way when your back as mounting the fuse box everything should be fine. Good luck and enjoy driving it.

rwhite65 · 03-17-2005, 01:21 AM

just one thought I wanted to add. I used an Auto Zone light switch on my restored 79 truck. Never, Never do that. The switch went bad while I was drving the truck and toasted half my wiring harness. If you replace the switch, buy quality.
Ryan

Trish · 03-21-2005, 10:18 AM

Thanks guys!! It was the light switch. I went to Atlanta this past weekend to MustangsUnlimited. It is amazing what that switch covers. My father in law (who owns a 68 GTO and he fully restored himself) was surprised that the switch fixed the problem.

I don't know the quality of the switch, but my father in law works for NAPA and the part is still available. NAPA still has the "big" parts, alternator, starter, etc. So, hopefully on those parts you will know you are getting quality. I wasn't thinking about quality, but I decided to go to MustangsUnlimited for the part because it would have taken about a week to get the part from my father in law. ha! Needless to say, I was driving her around yesterday (sunshine and 70 degrees... perfect!!).

I am thinking of biting the bullet and buying the wires because I have to replace my dash pad and panels. I figure I can get it all done in one swoop and not have to tear out the pads and panels at a later date if it goes bad. I have a lot of work to do!!

Thanks for your help!!

Paul 69 Mach I · 03-21-2005, 05:05 PM

No problem glad to hear it worked out. If you pulling the dash pad you'd smart to replace anything electronic back there. It's a big price tag and it doesn't make it go faster or look prettier. It just stops stuff from taking on that BBQ'ed look.
Now as far as getting her out to stretch her legs.... Damn! I live in Northern, IL. so that is at least a month away.

03-14-2005, 02:58 PM	#1
Trish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	1967 Mustang - Break lights not working My brakes, running, reverse and dash lights have quit working on my 67 Mustang. The headlights and turn signals all work. I looked at the fuse box and all appear to be okay. In the Chilton's manual it appears that something may be wrong with the light switch assembly but I can still turn the switch and the inside lights come on. Can anyone please help me?!?!?! Last edited by Trish; 03-14-2005 at 03:27 PM..

03-14-2005, 07:14 PM	#2
Paul 69 Mach I Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working Trish It sounds like the dash board head light switch. I had a similar problem. The old one seemed OK. I took it out & it fell apart in my hands. NPD has the switch. You might also have some dash gauge problems. Before you start chasing ground wires replace the circuit board & lights on the gauges. It would have saved me a lot of time.

03-15-2005, 10:51 AM	#3
Trish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working Thanks you so much Paul!!!! The weather is getting lovely down here in Alabama and I can't take my baby out for a spin!

03-15-2005, 01:38 PM	#4
Kisner Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 290	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working The "first" thing you need to do (I did it last after 2 months of trying to solve the problem) is remove the fuse controlling those lights and sand off any surface rust on the contacts. That fixed my problem (after I replaced everything else).

03-16-2005, 09:45 AM	#5
Trish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working Thanks Kisner!!! I am going to start working on her tonight. I will do the fuse box first (a LOT easier) and then the switch. I will let you guys know. I started pricing the under dash wiring set just in case neither works. Good God, they are mighty proud of their wires!!! ha! Thanks guys!!

03-16-2005, 06:14 PM	#6
Paul 69 Mach I Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working Trish, My rule of thumb with fuel problems and electrical problems is REPLACE IT! Ford never intended your 67 to still be on the road 38 years later. The parts were not made & never intended to last that long. I've watched a friends Camero turn into a burning ember on the side of the road after he "fixed" a electrical problem the easy way. I was also at a cruise night when a Nova who's owner "fixed" a fuel problem turn into a crispy critter. My son decided he wanted a classic. It needed a new motor. We took the motor out & replaced all the wiring bumper to bumper. Yes, wiring is expensive. But after putting in new wiring several problems magically corrected themselves. In the long run it saved money. Don't be afraid to replace the dash harness yourself. Pull the dashboasd & route the new harness alongside the old one. Start from the far side & unhook one plug at a time into the new harness. That way when your back as mounting the fuse box everything should be fine. Good luck and enjoy driving it.

03-17-2005, 01:21 AM	#7
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working just one thought I wanted to add. I used an Auto Zone light switch on my restored 79 truck. Never, Never do that. The switch went bad while I was drving the truck and toasted half my wiring harness. If you replace the switch, buy quality. Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

03-21-2005, 10:18 AM	#8
Trish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working Thanks guys!! It was the light switch. I went to Atlanta this past weekend to MustangsUnlimited. It is amazing what that switch covers. My father in law (who owns a 68 GTO and he fully restored himself) was surprised that the switch fixed the problem. I don't know the quality of the switch, but my father in law works for NAPA and the part is still available. NAPA still has the "big" parts, alternator, starter, etc. So, hopefully on those parts you will know you are getting quality. I wasn't thinking about quality, but I decided to go to MustangsUnlimited for the part because it would have taken about a week to get the part from my father in law. ha! Needless to say, I was driving her around yesterday (sunshine and 70 degrees... perfect!!). I am thinking of biting the bullet and buying the wires because I have to replace my dash pad and panels. I figure I can get it all done in one swoop and not have to tear out the pads and panels at a later date if it goes bad. I have a lot of work to do!! Thanks for your help!!

03-21-2005, 05:05 PM	#9
Paul 69 Mach I Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27	Re: 1967 Mustang - Break lights not working No problem glad to hear it worked out. If you pulling the dash pad you'd smart to replace anything electronic back there. It's a big price tag and it doesn't make it go faster or look prettier. It just stops stuff from taking on that BBQ'ed look. Now as far as getting her out to stretch her legs.... Damn! I live in Northern, IL. so that is at least a month away.

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