Light problem

So I have the 63 back on the road and I just worked I have no lights, absolutely none. Do the switches themselves get problems because that seems like the most likely place to me. The light on the gauge does come on when I pull the light switch out.

 

Well it turns out it is partially just the ground on the switch, so the good news is I have head lights just from fiddling with the switch.

The not so good news, is I do not have brakes lights or any kind of running lights. That is not a real big problem because I was aware of that already. I will just trace that wiring and see if they are even hooked up, I suspect they aren't because my Jeep does not have a turn signal handle/switch at all. I do have one though

 

To my knowledge, the switch does not have a ground. But, yes, the switches can go bad.

The instrument lights (on some years at least) come off a different terminal on the switch than the main lights. Likewise, the running lights. Seems like the problem may be inside your switch, therefore, or bad connections on the outputs. It is possible you could open it up carefully and clean it - I've done it as a temporary fix.

Brake lights and directionals are a separate circuit from the other lights, nothing to do with the headlight switch.

 

Ok, cool thanks Pete that answers why there are no brake lights, that will be because of whatever was taken out when the turn signal switch was removed.

I thought it might be grounded because if I just turn it a little the lights come on. I have to sort of jiggle it, but once on they stay on

 

Yep the stop lights have to go through the turn-sig switch.

 

I had the same problem a few months ago. I had head lights but not tail lights. I replaced the head light switch. It didn't help. Then I found the problem with my volt meter. There wasn't enough voltage powering the tail light circuit. Turned out to be a dirty fuse.

 

Turn Signals= Over-rated. here in Washington my 59 is old enough its not required to have them. and im not sure mine ever had them mostly since my front park lights have only one wire coming out of them. of course that's not to say someone in the last 54 years didn't replace them with the wrong ones since my original taillights and original wiring harness are both long gone.

I don't know if its universal across the country or not but in Washington older vehicles may use their drivers arm to indicate a turn. aka Stick your left arm straight out the side of the vehicle to indicate left turn. and Stick your left arm out and up in a right angle to indicate a right turn....that's what I do. That's probably why my original canvas half top has a zipper about arm height on driver door only.

 

We are not required to have them either, but if they are not there you have to use visible hand signals, which I do now - gets old on rainy days. But my problem is no brake lights - they are required and more importantly it is pretty dangerous without them.

But I will give you one thing, not having them simplifies things from the mechanical perspective

 

My 56/57 Cj5 has "directional signals" as "Factory Installed Optional Equipment" on the dealer invoice.

 

Although I have no turn signals, I do have brake lights. why don't you just wire up your brake lights and leave your vehicle with no signals? Its very easy to do. My 59 still has the original single cylinder master cylinder and right on the front of the master cylinder is my brake switch, it has 2 wires heading directly to the back lights. and that's it, really simple.

I also bought a NOS brake switch from Peter Debella even though mine works. but I will soon be installing this R&P Dual Master Cylinder conversion kit I bought, with the NOS switch.

 

Good idea, I might do that for now Work. I have the blinker switch for the steering column just had not had time to put in but you are right straight wires back for the brakes would be simple and make it a lot safer