49 desoto rear lights

[janan5243]

discovered today that my 49 Desoto rear fender lights only function as taillights & directional. The two lights on either side of the trunk emblem/handle function as brake lights. Is that how the lights were designed to work? Looked in shop manual, Schematic only shows brake light but not where they are. doesn't even show directional. Have spent several hours on internet & forums. No luck. No info. Help before I start tearing wiring apart.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Thats correct. Center brake light only.

[DonaldSmith]

Some of the guys add small stalk lights to the panel at the bumper for the turn signals, and use the bright filament at the tail lights for braking.  

 

I managed to squeeze three quartz bulbs in my tail lights, for the three functions.  It's been a while.  I forgot how I did it.  If you ask me, and I'll have to research my records. 

 

(Edit; added:)  Some of the guys get 7-wire turn signals, which blink the bright filament when the brake lights are on.  Some guys have devised relay circuits to do the same.  So the bight filament works for both stop and turn.   

Edited July 27, 2015 by DonaldSmith

[janan5243]

I am trying to find what functions the rear lights perform on my car. A friend was walking past car & pointed out that brake lights were only working on both sides of trunk emblem/handle. Lights on fenders were not working as brake lights. When checking lights, I would walk around car & make sure directionals & taillights were working They were & still are. Brake lights only work as noted. Checked schematic in shop manual & it only shows brake light circuit but not location. Does not show directionals at all. Have searched everywhere for answers with no results. Can see where wire from brake switch ( obviously working) goes to lights in trunk lid. Any info greatly appreciated. HELP!!!!!!!!

[ACJCF2]

That's because the lights either side of the trunk emblem/lock are the brake lights. The taillights on the rear fenders are running/turn signal lights only.

Jim

[deathbound]

Did you start a thread yesterday on the same subject? I believe there are a couple replies.

http://p15-d24.com/topic/39250-49-desoto-rear-lights/

[janan5243]

Yes I did try to start a thread Sunday also but the forum said I couldn't post it because I was putting posts in too fast. It was my first post in quite a while. PMed Administrator & I guess he posted it. I didn't realize it & posted again yesterday. Thanks for all the replies. I figured that the lights were working correctly as car is totally original. I'll figure out how to wire them together. If I could check out a newer schematic, it might give me an easy solution. Thanks again.