No break lights could be faulty break switch. Be aware that there are 2 different break switches, one for power brakes and one for standards. Although they look alike, they are not interchangeable.
No sequential: it has been reported here at least once (not know where exactly) that this could be the result of a flasher unit that would be flashing too quickly.
In all cases, good grounding is an absolute must: in my case I had to sand all bulbs and sockets of both front parking lights and rear tail lights before I could resolve issues Ā± similar to yours.
Here is very good stuff to read: http://www.classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2518&start=150#p61636
Hey guys,
first of all, since this is my first post: Hello from MĆ¼nster/Germany! Right now Iām in my third season riding a 68 XR-7, which came to Germany from the Sacramento area. Since Iām having trouble installing a K10-relay from WCCC (itās the replacement part from Cougars Unlimited), Don told me to post my issue right here. So here I go.
In order to go back to the original flashing system, I installed an old but still working SQM in 2014. Everything worked pretty good for two years now. Only thing is the K10-relay getting a little weak. Every now and then it stops working, which takes the inner and outer taillights out of the flashing sequence. You can see it while driving, as the turn signal indicator lights only go dim but donāt turn off. In order to change this, I ordered the replacement-relay. But now there is no flashing sequence at all. All wires properly connected, battery charged, engine runningā¦ but nothing happens.
I checked the following things:
- Check for continuity between 436 and 436A and also between 438 and 438A. ā No continuity without coil power (which is fine), but also no continuity with coil power on 514 and bullet connector installed (which I think is not fine).
- Made sure 514 actually has coil power and all connections are clean and tight. ā Works fine.
- Double-checked by changing back to the original relay. ā Continuity is given as expected and all three lamps are flashing.
Now I donāt have any more ideas. What am I doing wrong? Is there any way I can make sure the relay is okay?
Thanks for you help!
Alex
The function of K10 is to connect 436 to 436A (yellow) and 438 to 438A (yellow/black) during normal turn signal operation.
If you have continuity (close to zero ohms) when 12V is applied to 514 (light blue) and the relay is grounded, then the relay is fine. When it is plugged into the socket, you should see flashing power on 436/436A and 438/438A.
I suspect that the output of the sequential flasher is intermittent. This is typically caused by dirty or eroded contacts under the white plastic cover. Try cleaning the contacts with a relay burnishing tool or very fine (1000 grit) sand paper. If this resolves the problem, plan on replacing the sequential flasher - otherwise you will need to clean the contacts every few months.
Vic,
I do not have continuity as you described. The Voltmeter shows 12,43 V on 514 (without the engine running), but the circuits donāt connect. And just to be sure, I provided additional ground by running a seperate line from the negative battery pole to the relayās ground wire and re-checked the whole thing. Again, nothing happens.
Since everything works fine as long as I use a Ford-relay, I think my CU-relay must be bad. Is there anything I can do about it? Should I open it to look for bad solder joints or take a close-up picture or something?
Alex
Alex -
Can you post a close-up picture of how you have the relay plugged in?
Thanks,
Iāll have a try. Here you can see (I hope) the relay plugged in.
I checked all the lines for a tight fit. The red crocodile is not connected. I only used it to mark the position where I added extra ground yesterday.
ā¦and while Iām at it: Here you can see 12 Volts and infinite Ohms.
I have a 1970 Mercury Cougar xr7 convertible. I have receipts for everything that has been replaced on the car. The friend that gave me the car went through and replaced almost everything. Out of nowhere I have no brake lights and no sequential turn signals or hazards. The turn signals and hazards work but arenāt sequential. I have replaced both flashers, the brake light switch and went through the wiring. The turn signal switch was also replaced. What could my problem be at this point. (spent all day yesterday looking into this).
I have both a 67 and a 68 Cougar XR7. I have the new WCCC LED lights for the front turn lights and rear light. The 67 has a bad relay so no signals but brakes work good and so do the parking and stop lites. The 68 everything works fine except only the middle bulbs signal, not sequential. On both cars I have the replacement sequencers. I did purchase the new relayfor the 67 but my steering wheel turn signal cancelers are on order from the shop that is warranting the work from a complete re-wire of the car. Tip, place your new after market fuse block on the DS above your left foot so youāll be able to get to it. Shop finished the job with the fuse block in OEM position. When all relays and vacuum lines from tilt wheel were placed back in you could not get to the fuse block. Cougars are not Mustangs! Somebody needs to make a Cougar exclusive wiring kit.
I need help to know where to trouble shoot. As far as I know, the 1157 bulbs worked in sequence before changing on the 68. I do have a mini-fuse block in place of factory glass block. Been using that for years with no trouble. Thanks for helping.
If it makes a difference, I recently installed LED halogen headlights in both cars. Much better light in the night! 
About your '68: If you replaced nothing but the sequencer in your trunk, go for the K10-relay first (same location, 5-pin-connector + ground line). Check if the blue line is powered when ignition is on. If it is, check for continuity on the relayās connectors that go to the yellow lines. Same thing with the yellow-black lines. Continuity should be given when the relay is powered. Be sure the relay has a good ground connection.
Hello everyone. I recently purchased a 1970 Cougar convertible. The car is all original from what I can tell. So, the problem is that I have no brake lights, and the turn signals all light up at once (no sequencing). I had assumed that these were separate issues, and I had planned to replaced the brake switch and possibly the sequential can. But after reading many of the posts in this thread Iām wondering whether the issues may be related. Any suggestions before I start replacing parts? Also, the tail lights (rear running lights) work fine.
Thanks for any and all advice.
One other thing I noticed. On the right rear, the inner light and the center light donāt work on signal (I checked the bulbs and theyāre fine). On hazard/emergency, the inner light flashes twice, then stops working for a cycle or two, then flashes twice again, etc. The center light never flashes. All lights on the left side work fine on both signal and hazard.
Also, in my trunk there is the black box, but there is also a tree of four relays. Thereās a lot of corrosion on the relays. Can someone tell me what function they perform and whether they could be part of the problem? Thanks again in advance.
Welcome here and to Cougar world. When you figure how to post pics here, please do as we enjoy them very much!
Very first step: ensure you have good grounding - replace all 6 bulbs and sand/abrade sockets (this is cheap & easy and may save you a lot of pain);
Second: replace brake switch* (also cheap even if less easy - little pain to install - but worthwhile I think).
If that fails to solve the break lights issue, then you will need to go to heavier tricks & troubleshoot.
These 2 steps are likely going to change (may be solve) the problems with right inner¢er lights.
Sequential will probably involve more than just that, but at least you will not be suspecting bulbs & sockets grounds.
- be careful to buy the proper switch: power breaks and standard breaks use different switches that look alike but are not interchangeable.
Good luck on this.
Thanks Dan. Sounds like a good plan to start.
Ok, so I replaced every exterior bulb and sanded/cleaned each socket. I also replaced the brake light switch under the dash and replaced the sequential unit in the trunk. I purchased all bulbs and parts from WCCC. The only part I have not yet replaced is the signal can under the dash. Now I have the following: All 6 tail lights work as running lights. I now have brake lights, but only the center light on each side illuminates with the brake pedal depressed. Left and right side signals work, but only the outer light on each side illuminates. Anyone have any suggestions?
Also, with the emergency flashers on, the center and outside lights on each side illuminate. The inside lights on each side do not illuminate.
Ok FmrPete, now there is some lightning up on brakes and behavior is the same on each sideā¦ so sounds to me like a wiring issue!
May be you know already, but if you donāt, please be aware that wiring order is very crucial as current must be supplied first to the inner bulbs through the proper wire (voltages and flow are not equal in all wires). So you may want to check that it is as follow (based on my car that still has the original wiring):
Driver side: inner (gas trap) should be green & orange; middle = green & red/purple* and outer = green & blue/black*.
Passenger side: inner = orange & blue/black*; center = orange & white and outer = orange & red.
Obviously, wiring to the sequencer must be done well as well, but may be you want to first check at bulbs ends.
- since I canāt distinguish dark colors very well, I reported red/purple and blue/black meaning red or purple and blue or black.
Good luck
Hi guys,
I am suffering from a rare (I think) variation of turn signal troubles with my '68 standard.
What happens is the turn signals sequence properly from inside to outside, but at the same time the tail lights (not brake lights), side marker lamps and some of the interior backlight bulbs (e.g. radio) flash on and off as well. It seems to make no difference which position the headlamp switch is in at the time.
Front turn signal lamps operate correctly and it makes no difference if it is a left turn or right turn being indicated. The sequencing motor had already replaced by an electronic version when I bought the car and I have since changed all the bulbs to LEDs as well as replacing the K5 under dash turn signal relay with an electronic unit.
This setup has been working 100% fine up until a few weeks ago when I took the car in to have some work done on the auto transmission. I suspect there may be a short someplace where the parking light wiring comes into close proximity with the turn signal wiring but Iām at a loss as to where to start looking.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Well, after some further investigation it looks like I am using LED bulbs that donāt have isolation diodes between the brake/turn and tail light pins.
This allows current to flow back across to the tail light circuit from the bulb(s) that are energised on their brake/turn pins, lighting them up in sync with the turn signal.
No easy fix other than to splice external diodes into the wiring loom and not sure I want to do thatā¦
Dan - My wire colors match what you have. My car is virtually 100% original, so I believe all wiring harnesses are correct. I have now also replaced the sequential flasher can under the dash. It did not correct the problem (there was no change). So at this point I have replaced the sequential flasher can, the sequential unit in the trunk, and all bulbs. I have also inspected and cleaned all bulb sockets. Iām really at a loss as to what to do next. Is it possible I received a faulty sequential unit?