67 License Light - No Power to Wires

[Bill L.]

HI:

Just tested my 4-way blinkers, left and right turn signals both lane change and regular, backup lamps and brake lamps --- everything is working --- EXCEPT the license plate lamp.

I changed the bulb no success. I pulled the lamp fixture out of the car and bench tested it --- it works fine.

I checked the voltage to the ground(black) and power (brown) wire and I get nothing --- that is clearly the problem --- BUT --- EVERYTHING else on that circuit is working ---

Could this be a faulty head lamp switch? I did notice that the panel lamps are also not working --- (The head lamps work fine...) I have to "assume" here that something in the switch is not doing its job to light the license light.

I would appreciate and ideas from those who have had similar problems -- thanks in advance.

Regards
Bill

[Keith B.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

Start simple check to see if you have power at the body connector by the fuse panel. I would say you lost a ground. Run a jumper wire from a known ground and touch the housing

[Edward J.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

Bill, black is the ground and brown is the 12 volt wire, if tail lights are working the license light is feed 12 volts on the same circuit, take another look at the brown wire for power. if no power trace the wires back from the back side maybe a break somewhere. If you want a easy fix for now just tap into the brown wire on the closest tail light. But most of the time I see the black ground wire does not make a good connection to the housing. also make a quick check of the brown wire connector sometime corrosion can be a issue the brass connectors.

[Bill L.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

Thanks--- I will try both of those approaches ---

I agree something is goofy here maybe with the ground or power (or both) with all the other lights working ---

At least its only TWO wires to check!!!!

Regards
Bill

[Ray G.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

Hello;
Am I correct in saying you did not say the tail lights are working?
Tail lights, license light, and dash/panel lights are on the same fuse.
C2 Fuse holders often need cleaning with a small brass wire brush because of the location of the fuse panel and the possibility of water & corrosion.
Ray

[Donald H.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

I had the same problem on my 66. As I recall the ground wire is attached to the housing via one of the mounting screws. Then the lamp socket is crimped into the housing and get ground via its contact with the housing. What I found was that the ground from the housing to the socket was poor. I tried wire brushing to make sure there wasn't interference from corrosion. What I finally had to do was solder a small area between the housing and the lamp socket. That fixed the problem.

Don

[Bill L.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

Thanks Don --- the problem appears to be further up the wiring loom in my case...

Checking the ground(black) and power (brown) wire with a volt meter does not generate a reading ---

Regards
Bill

[Richard M.]

Re: 67 License Light - No Power to Wires

Bill, Since your Tail lamps are working, the feed to them from the main and rear harness has power. Do another voltage check on that Brown wire, but this time connect the meter ground lead to the rear bumper or a known good ground. I suspect it will show voltage. If so, your Black ground wire is the fault, maybe broken in the harness. The rear lamp harness in these gets weathered easily over time. The Black feed from up front is good becasue the Tail lamps work, but it splits off to the License lamp circuit.

If not, then it's likely a break in the Brown wire in the rear harness somewhere near the tail lamp crimped junctions.

Your inoperative instrument panel lamps may be a blown fuse(3A IIRC) or a bad rheostat in the headlight switch. Did you turn the HL knob full CW and CCW to be sure it's just not "dimmed"?

Rich