Ok, so i have just got my car road worthy since buying it a few months back. now i notice i don't have any rear lights at all except for if i turn on the flashers and then it is only the brake lights and not the side markers. i have replaced every bulb for brakes, markers and back up lights and get nothing. the fuses all seem to be good although i am kinda new to the buss fuse. i just can't get any power to the lights except for the flashers. i read where slantsixdan said the rear lights go through the flasher? as in the relay or what? any help would be much appreciated as i am jonesing really bad to drive this thing...

The backup and running lights don't go through the turn signal switch; the turn/brake lights do. They all go through the same connector that (I think) on your Dart is down by the rearward edge of the left kick panel near the forward end of sill plate, so I'd check there first.

Some later FSM's (>~1974?) show the internal schematic of the turn signal switch; most aftermarket and early factory schematics don't. Loose or bad connections inside the turn signal switch can cause lots of intermittent problems.

i forgot to mention that it's a 70 valiant. sorry bout that. i took that kick panel off and the connector is there and looks great. i will have to follow the wires tomorrow if it isn't raining. would it be a good idea to go ahead and replace the turn signal switch? and by switch is it the cam in the steering column or the relay or both? also, i noticed that there is a connector that is unplugged under the steering column. it has 3 wires and i can't find what it would connect to but i will investigate that more later too i just ran out of time today.

You're going to need a 12V test light; they're inexpensive. Keep in mind that it isn't unusual to have several problems when wiring gets this old.

If the flashers work OK, you know that the wiring from the switch to the back is OK for brake & turn. If the turn signals work too, then your turn signal switch is fine and there's no reason to replace it.

--- turn signals ---
If the turn signals don't work (remember to turn the ignition on), look at the front turn signals and see if they light up. If they do, swap your hazard flasher for the turn signal flasher - the front light ought to flash. If the front flashes and the back stays dark, you know everything up to the switch is fine and that the problem is right at the switch.

If the front light doesn't light up, check for power at the flasher; if you've power there, check the red wire at the column in the flat connector going to the turn signal switch (the other with heavier wiring goes to the ign switch). If you've power there, the switch is bad. If you've no power at the flasher, doublecheck the fuses using the test light for +12V on both sides. Fuses that look good can still go bad.

--- running lights ---
If you get nothing at the connector at he kickpanel (black wire) with the lights on, but the front parking lights work, the problem is closer to the headlight switch, probably right where the wires join female crimp; if you've got power at the kickpanel connector, the problem is further back. Sometimes the wires get damaged where the run through the trunk.

The most common problem under the dash with that circuit is that the connector at the headlight switch gets hot due to corrosion and burns up. Sometimes wires break, sometimes they get damaged by a screw or poorly planned modification.

It isn't all that hard to trace; the most difficult part is working under
the dash. Often, it pays to remove the seats just to get a little more space to work. Good Luck!

Thanks for all the info. I will try to trace it down today if the rain stays away for a while. I have a multimeter so i can test the wires. thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

well, i just got the brake lights working. turned out to be a bad ground, and bad brake light switch. i replaced the flasher and blinker relays too just to be safe. thanks for the help.