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A quick tail light electrical question. In the tail light assembly, I know the top bulb is the turn signal and the bottom is the tail light and brake light. My question is does it matter which wire gets the tail light power or the brake light power? Thanks.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackAbsolutely, there are two filaments in an incandescent bulb. The thick one is for brakes and the thinner one for tail lights. If you have changed the bulb holder to a SAE 1157 style you will likely have to test which wire is energized when the head lights are turned on and then test to see which element is connected to which wire on the socket. Make sure you have the socket holder connected to a good ground source. If using LED bulbs, same test but some bulbs power more light emitting diodes for brakes.
David B Dixon
Port Perry ON CA
SabineI checked the tail/brake light sockets. Both wires going to the socket are the same diameter wire. I’ll have to get her all wired up and when I turn on the lights I’ll be able to see which connection is which. Cold and wind chill here in middle GA (yes it does get to below 32F down here) so I’ll have to wait until the temps get up a little higher. Rather than the backyard shed, I should have put up a wired shop instead. Hindsight etc. Learning all the time.
Thanks for the help.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackI checked the tail/brake light sockets. Both wires going to the socket are the same diameter wire.
Hi Allen.
David said “filaments” inside the bulbs so I’m not sure if you misread what he was saying.
I believe there would be 2 contacts for the brake bulb so it can act as both normal light and brake light, therefore 2 wires going to it. I’m thinking maybe since you say “both wires”, meaning 2, that could mean one is the brake and other is for the 2 separate bulb sockets.
Might be easier to figure out testing for power while applying brake pedal instead of wire color.
And if you were saying the 2 bulbs and sockets are single contact it must be different than I would have expected, but then I don’t know MG or VW or whatever these kits might be using.
Bob
Bob. My tail light assemblies are VW assemblies (I believe) and have two separate sockets. The top socket has one wire and is for the turn signal. The bottom socket has one bulb with two filaments (tail and brake) with two wires of the same color and thickness. Neither socket has a ground wire and I have to add the grounds to both sockets. Just wished the kit manufacturer (Fiberfab) used separate colors for the brake and tail light wires. Like the did up front for the parking/turn signal lights. Blu for the turn signal and green for the parking light. Thanks for your input though.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackTo answer your original question, Allen. Yes, one filament (the tall one, I think — from memory) is brighter than the other. So it does matter a bit — they’ll still work either way. But, you get more contrast/difference wired one way compared to the other. Just be prepared to swap terminals there before you tighten everything up…
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Thanks for the info Kent. Definitely want my brake lights to burn brightly.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackKent’s answer nailed it.
And Allen, for what it’s worth, that connection is the only mistake I made when wiring my Duchess. Like yours, my rear wiring harness did not make it clear which wire was the tail light, and which was the brake light.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
I got that solved today when I connected the battery. Turned the light switch to parking lights and saw the light come on. Stepped on the brake pedal and that’s when I located the correct wire. Oddly enough I had the correct wires on the driver’s side but not the passenger’s side. All good now. Wish they would have used different color wires like they did on the front parking light/turn signal assemblies. Would have saved a lot of trouble. Maybe I should change the wires to match the front park/turn signal lights like in the harness I made.
Now back to the brake master cylinder. Its leaking around the seal at the top supply line from the reservoir.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackDecided to go ahead and change the wire colors to match the rest of my made harness. Getting the red (brake) and green (tail) light wires through the bottom of the socket was a learning experience. I had to cut and solder the wires up next to the button connector, then feed them through the socket, then add the heat shrink and feed the wires through the rubber boot that covers the socket. Got them hooked up AND…they work as they’re supposed to. Then moved on the the brake MC.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack
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