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Bypassing The Blinker Switch For Brake Lights

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by CJake5, May 3, 2020.

  1. CJake5

    CJake5 New Member

    I have a 65 CJ5 and I can’t get my brake lights to work. I’m almost positive the problem is in the Sparton blinker switch. I know I can get a new blinker switch but I like keeping things original and have failed to find a Sparton that works. I’m not to concerned with the turn signals at the moment but I would like to have my break lights working until I can get one that works. I’m not exactly a master when it comes to wiring but I was wondering if I could bypass the blinker switch for my brake lights? I’m not exactly sure how the blinker switch works with the brake lights but I know they are connected. Has anyone done this?
     
    CJake5, May 3, 2020
    #1
  2. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Have you determined that the brake light switch is good? Do you have power to the switch when the brakes are applied?
     
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #2
    Twin2 likes this.
  3. CJake5

    CJake5 New Member

    Yes. The brake switch is good. I’m pretty sure the blinker switch is bad.
     
    CJake5, May 3, 2020
    #3
  4. boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    Sounds like it might be a brake switch problem.

    Also, the brake switches in older jeeps tend to take a lot of pressure to activate. Not like a modern car where they go on when your foot lightly brushes the brake pedal. So make sure you’re pushing hard enough on the pedal when doing your testing.

    edit: we were posting at the same time and you said the switch is good. So I have no other ideas for you.
     
    boopiejones, May 3, 2020
    #4
  5. Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

    Mine takes alot more than a newer car. I uesed a push button on the wires whenni was testing everything. You can bypass it by connecting the wire coming from the brake light switch to the spartan to the two wires coming from the brake lights. For mine it was brown from the brake light switch and i think green n orange from brake lights.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2020
    Cowboyjeeper, May 3, 2020
    #5
  6. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    If you have power at the switch when the brakes are applied then it's not the turn signal switch that is the problem.
     
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #6
    Cowboyjeeper likes this.
  7. CJake5

    CJake5 New Member

    The brake switch is fine. I’m not sure how to explain this but inside the blinker switch housing, the the mounting holes are broken on the switch board. So the switch doesn’t make good contact with the board. I tried rigging it with some zip ties but no luck.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2020
    CJake5, May 3, 2020
    #7
  8. CJake5

    CJake5 New Member

    Thanks! That’s what I was wondering. So I should be able to run the wires from the brake lights to the hot wire that goes to the brake switch?
     
    CJake5, May 3, 2020
    #8
  9. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    To answer your question you can. Remove the one coming from the turn signal and replace it with another hot wire that doesn't run through the turn signal switch.

    This was in reply to the original question about a hot wire bypassing the turn signal switch.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2020
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #9
  10. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    The other terminal on the brake switch.
     
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #10
    Cowboyjeeper likes this.
  11. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Also, to clarify what I meant is applying the brakes activates the switch thus completing the circuit. Sounds to me like your switch is bad, which is a common problem.
     
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #11
  12. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Only if you want the brake lights to be on permanently.
     
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #12
    Cowboyjeeper likes this.
  13. Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

    Yes i guess i worded that wrong. I meant to leave the brakelight switch to complete the circut
     
    Cowboyjeeper, May 3, 2020
    #13
    Glenn likes this.
  14. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    I hear ya. I had to clarify on my posts too. :)
     
    Glenn, May 3, 2020
    #14
    Cowboyjeeper likes this.
  15. Cowboyjeeper

    Cowboyjeeper Member

    glad im not the only one haha
     
    Cowboyjeeper, May 3, 2020
    #15
    Glenn likes this.
  16. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    It would be nice to have an update on this.
     
    Glenn, May 4, 2020
    #16