64 356 Rear Tail Lights

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Bob Soldani
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64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#1 Post by Bob Soldani »

I can't seem to get my rear tail lights to come on. Both tail lights and rear license plate lights will not illuminate. Everything else seems to be ok. Brake lights, headlights and front and rear directionals are ok. The rear running lights will not illuminate. I have checked all fuses (changed some just in case) but no luck. Any ideas.
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Pete Indelicato
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#2 Post by Pete Indelicato »

I think your best bet is to download the wiring diagram from this site and trace the wires, usually just a bad connection.
1963 T6 couple #212891, motor #*KD*P*730464

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Bruce Smith
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#3 Post by Bruce Smith »

Greg Bryan is a great resource for wiring diagrams. You can find his contact info. on the site for nice laminated docs., and he's also published diagrams in the magazine.
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Bob Soldani
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#4 Post by Bob Soldani »

Thanks for the advice. I have the wiring diagrams but I'm confused why both tail lights are out. I thought they were on separate circuits.
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Rudy Bernhard
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#5 Post by Rudy Bernhard »

What has changed since they last worked? If you have brake lights, then you have a ground at the tail lights. Usually corrosion in the bulb socket that is easy to fix if things have sat awhile. Are you still 6 volts? Not LEDs?
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Bob Soldani
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#6 Post by Bob Soldani »

Yes, I'm still 6 volts. The rear lights are the new halogen lights. They have worked for about four years since I installed them. The turn signals, brake lights work but no running lights on both sides.
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Hugo Karasawa
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#7 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

There is a connector below the dash close to the steering shaft tube. Probably the cables that go to the rear are disconnected there. But as you said, there are separate circuits for the rear right and rear left.

Pete Indelicato
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#8 Post by Pete Indelicato »

Printable wiring diagrams are available in the 'technical library'--if your wiring is still original even shows what color wire you might need to trace. This is a great resource for members.
1963 T6 couple #212891, motor #*KD*P*730464

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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#9 Post by Michael Branning »

You can also download the 356 Electrics books with Joe Leon's circuit descriptions. It's been slow getting the word out...tell your friends. These are an amazing resource for troubleshooting your electrical problems.

https://porsche356registry.org/content. ... _id=508436
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Rudy Bernhard
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#10 Post by Rudy Bernhard »

Read voltage at the bulb socket. Some non standard lamps (i.e. LEDs, don't know about halogen) have a threshold voltage, that once you get below that value, you won't light. On 6 volt cars, it doesn't take much crud in the connections to get to a low enough voltage to prevent it lighting. What is your current battery voltage? not too much to this circuit. just recheck the basics. clean socket, good grounds, adequate voltage.
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Owned Porsche 356s continuously since 1978
(wow, made 45 years of ownership on the 60 Cab!)

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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#11 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

Read Greg Bryan´s article " Parking Lights and Instrument Illumination" in the Registry Magazine Nov/Dec 2014.
All the info you need and troubleshooting.

Bob Soldani
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Re: 64 356 Rear Tail Lights

#12 Post by Bob Soldani »

Thank you for all your suggestions. They are great. A friend came over to help me and we found the problem. With both tail lights out we checked the wire from the fuse box to the light switch on pin #58. We jiggled the wire and lo and behold the lights came on. Seems that I had a loose connection on the back of the light switch. I appreciate all the help!
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