Classic/Antique Car Repair/59 ford galaxie

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Expert: - 8/31/2010


Question
QUESTION: where is the brake switch located ? My son just bought this old vehicle and replaced the V regulator...since then the brake lights are not getting any voltage.

ANSWER: The brake switch, stop light switch should be right on the end of the master cylinder on a 59. There should be two wires going to it and pone should be hot, have voltage, all the time. The other should have voltage when the brake pedal is depressed.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Does the hot side of the switch get its juice from the light switch or the directional switch ? I'm looking at a diagram I found on the web.

Answer
It should get it's current from the headlight switch and then send it to the directional switch. As the bulbs in the back of the ca are double filament bulbs, the tail tights use one filament and the stop and directional use the other. The directional decides depending on switch position whether the voltage to the bulb with be steady as in stop lights or blinking as in directional.

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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