Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The past couple of times I have driven my Clipper, the taillights stayed on after I had released the brake and even after I had turned off the car. Initially I found that I could turn off the taillights by pumping the brake pedal a couple of times, but now the car is wise to my tricks. In fact, the taillight came back on after I disconnected and reconnected the batter.

My question to you is this: Is this a common problem and if so, is there a common way to deal with it? The fuses seem to be OK. I would appreciate any suggests. Thank you.

Craig

Standard or power brakes? In either case could be a plugged vent hole in the cap. If standard brakes, could be lack of peddle free play or sufficient pedal free play so the inlet port doesn't always clear when the pedal retracts and you have residual pressure in the lines. Of course it could also be a pending failure of the brake light switch but I'd suspect something maintaining residual hydraulic pressure first.

Owen:

Thank you. The Clipper has the world-renowned Easamatic power brakes that stop on a dime and give you 9 cents change.

I'm not familiar with the 55-56 easamatic BLS (BrakeLightSwitch) but the earlier cars have a hydraulicly activated switch. The Switch is staying on, either becasue of a fault in the Switch (internal short) or there is somehow hydraulic pressure remaining in the System after you take your foot off the brake.
-I hope that helps, and isn't just re-stating what you already knew. Be careful working on that Switch, becasue one side of the Switch should be 'hot' all the time. If you're not careful you can make some sparks with a wrench creating a ground.

I had a similar problem with one of mine (when I had Packards). I ended up bypassing the hydraulic brake light switch and using a mechanical switch from an 80's GM car. it had the switch leg for the brake lights and also a switch leg to disengage a lock up torque converter. I used that circuit for the load leveler disconnect.

It must have been one of my 56s because the brake pedal lever was wide enough that I simply got a little "L" bracket and attached the switch to the steering column with a couple hose clamps with the button resting against the brake pedal lever above the foot pad.

When the brake pedal was pushed the button was released and the brake light circuit was closed and the load leveler circuit was opened.

It worked great and no holes were drilled, just ran the wiring though an existing opening in the firewall.

I am by no means an expert, but I think my original hydraulic switch just got stuck. Probably from years of dirty brake fluid and it just would not pop back to the normal position.

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MrBumble................see above thread. I just replaced my switch with the one from the Packard Club. Give it some consideration. The item was pretty easy to install and they provide good technical instructions.

Yeah, Kevin that it pretty much what I did on my own 20 something years ago. Nice to see someone has made it easy.

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This is a long shot.I replaced my brake switch.When I did, I thought I connected the wires correctly.I did not as my brake light stayed on until I put my foot on the brake.Then it went out (load leveler also stoped working). Looked at my friends 56 and saw my mistake. Connected correctly and everything worked fine.