Re: Brake Wire Issue

Posted by HH56 On 2019/6/14 13:01:18

It is truly hard to say what is going on. I believe the 49 has the same type loom layout the 47 does in that the body loom section to the brake and tail lights consists of 5 wires in a partially wrapped loom and maybe 1 or 2 separate wires. The wires start at an opening below the L side half of windshield and go thru a channel in the A pillar to exit above the headliner. They follow another channel above the doors to the package shelf area where they drop down and enter the trunk. Nothing was under the car except at the very back where wires for the license light and fuel sender drop out of the trunk. A wire for the reverse light and overdrive wires are under the car if it has those options. A short distance away from the opening below the windshield the body loom connects to the main loom via inline Wade connectors or on a couple of wires, terminals directly onto a switch. The two wires connecting to the brake switch are part of the main loom, 1 is power from the breaker and the other goes to the Wade connector and body loom.

If you don't have the factory wiring diagram it is on this site and the 48-9 22nd series diagram is one of the better ones -- good quality and easy to follow. It is laid out more or less like a birds eye view.https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/wirediagrams/48-9%20%2022nd%20Series.pdf

The short would not be stealing the juice but possibly did blow a fuse. When you say won't start, will the engine turn over and just not start or not turn over at all. Both wires involved come from the ignition switch but off different terminals and if there is an OD, there is the ign cutout circuit which if a wire is shorted could be causing issues.

Any quality automotive wire will work. Most wires involved will be 16ga although if the OD or an accessory power circuit is involved at least 1 will be 12ga.