Re: 1965 Comet tail light wiring - Need your help
Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2021 12:46 am
very well could be. all cars may have had the wires ran back there . I'll look at mine again at the color of the wires later. snap a few pics
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Do all the rear tail lights and brake lights work properly? If so I would think they are wired correctly.Mvannote wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 7:03 pmMvannote wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 8:08 amHello. Forum newbie here.......I recently bought a 1965 Comet Caliente for my wife and notice it doesn't have any reverse lights. Is this normal?
While checking out the rear tail lighting, I also found some splicing of wires from the outer tail light housing to the main tail lights which doesnt seem right.
Anyone have this same, non reverse light setup and don't mind taking pictures of their tail light wiring so I can make sure they are wired properly?
I already bought a '65 shop manual and have found some '65 Comet wiring diagrams but not all that I see on paper matches with what I see in her car.
TIA
No, I found the last owner had installed sockets on the outside lenses and wired them to the original harness wrong. He simply wired the outside sockets to both the wires feeding the tail/stop/brake wires thinking one was positive and one was negative. By doing so, both outside socket bulbs blew immediately when lite up (found both bulbs blown and white inside the glass). Also, this wrong connection effected the brake light switch (tested bad and also jumped the connector to see working brake lights) and either the turn signal flasher (if there is one for this year) and/or the turn signal switch. When using the turn signal switch, both sides will flash correctly for about 5 seconds and then start to flash on and off very fast. I know once I get everything back to normal and operating, I can wire up the outside lenses correctly to light up only when the tail lights are turned on with the light switch.Lou's Comet wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:38 amDo all the rear tail lights and brake lights work properly? If so I would think they are wired correctly.Mvannote wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 7:03 pmMvannote wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 8:08 amHello. Forum newbie here.......I recently bought a 1965 Comet Caliente for my wife and notice it doesn't have any reverse lights. Is this normal?
While checking out the rear tail lighting, I also found some splicing of wires from the outer tail light housing to the main tail lights which doesnt seem right.
Anyone have this same, non reverse light setup and don't mind taking pictures of their tail light wiring so I can make sure they are wired properly?
I already bought a '65 shop manual and have found some '65 Comet wiring diagrams but not all that I see on paper matches with what I see in her car.
TIA
Do you want to change the car back to having backup lights?
Lou
Then the lights were definitely wired wrong.Mvannote wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:57 am
No, I found the last owner had installed sockets on the outside lenses and wired them to the original harness wrong. He simply wired the outside sockets to both the wires feeding the tail/stop/brake wires thinking one was positive and one was negative. By doing so, both outside socket bulbs blew immediately when lite up (found both bulbs blown and white inside the glass). Also, this wrong connection effected the brake light switch (tested bad and also jumped the connector to see working brake lights) and either the turn signal flasher (if there is one for this year) and/or the turn signal switch. When using the turn signal switch, both sides will flash correctly for about 5 seconds and then start to flash on and off very fast. I know once I get everything back to normal and operating, I can wire up the outside lenses correctly to light up only when the tail lights are turned on with the light switch.
I'm going to leave it a non-backup car.
Thanks for the info John!! I will order a couple for mine.poboyjo65 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:43 pmI haven't got out to get pics yet but throwing this in because Lou mentioned them & before I forget it. I carried a tail light in oreilys ,took sockets out of the packs & checked until I found one to fit. I haven't installed them yet but I bought these 1157 sockets with a prong for a ground wire to be added if needed. I plan to delete my BU lights & make the corner lights just an extra set of tail lights. plan to use leds. I want the brightest lights I can get back there,I can touch the brake lights to see how to back up. but getting back to the sockets,,,it's hard to find them to fit the corner lights of these cars so I thought I mention these. anyone else who wants sockets to fit the corner lights to have dual taillights these fit ;
Lou they are a little tight, kinda aggravating to get all of the prongs in the hole but after it snaps in feels good & tight , so in your case I would suggest putting the sockets in before you put the tail lights on. If I blow a bulb I plan to change bulbs by taking the lens off vs taking the socket back out ,just seems easier.Lou's Comet wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 3:36 pmThanks for the info John!! I will order a couple for mine.poboyjo65 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:43 pmI haven't got out to get pics yet but throwing this in because Lou mentioned them & before I forget it. I carried a tail light in oreilys ,took sockets out of the packs & checked until I found one to fit. I haven't installed them yet but I bought these 1157 sockets with a prong for a ground wire to be added if needed. I plan to delete my BU lights & make the corner lights just an extra set of tail lights. plan to use leds. I want the brightest lights I can get back there,I can touch the brake lights to see how to back up. but getting back to the sockets,,,it's hard to find them to fit the corner lights of these cars so I thought I mention these. anyone else who wants 1157 2 prong sockets to fit the corner lights to have dual taillights these fit ;
Lou
That is the procedure suggested in the shop manual for '64-'65 Comet. Later changed, of course to the twist out sockets and fixed lenses on later models. My memory is returning a bit.
If you haven't already tried. I would disconnect the wires going to the outside sockets then try the turn signals. It may fix the problem. ESP if the outside socket is a single contact.Mvannote wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:57 am
............... When using the turn signal switch, both sides will flash correctly for about 5 seconds and then start to flash on and off very fast. I know once I get everything back to normal and operating, I can wire up the outside lenses correctly to light up only when the tail lights are turned on with the light switch.
good advice!Lou's Comet wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 7:31 amIf you haven't already tried. I would disconnect the wires going to the outside sockets then try the turn signals. It may fix the problem. ESP if the outside socket is a single contact.Mvannote wrote: ↑Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:57 am
............... When using the turn signal switch, both sides will flash correctly for about 5 seconds and then start to flash on and off very fast. I know once I get everything back to normal and operating, I can wire up the outside lenses correctly to light up only when the tail lights are turned on with the light switch.
Lou
If I remember correctly the twilight wires are dark blue or green wth a yellow stripe. But JohnO can confirm that for you