C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

Brake Light problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 6, 2015 | 10:37 AM
  #21  
ren's Avatar
ren
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
Default

This may or may not be important. I replaced all wiring harnesses about seven years ago. During this process, the cancelling never really worked properly. Either did the horn. I re-wired the horn to a button under the cluster. As I previously stated, the turn signals have always been sensitive. Even with these issues, everything worked fine until last weekend.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2015 | 10:43 AM
  #22  
rtruman's Avatar
rtruman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 444
Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
The '63 switch setup is quite simple -- the mechanicals are under the horn button and the electricals are on the steering column at the firewall -- connected by a cable. If, after you install the new switch and place it at the center and press the brakes and both sides light that's not the problem (if it ever was).

If so, then you have to deal with the stuff under the horn button that cancels the turn indicators. Connect the switch cable and to test that -- back up to a reflective surface, turn the key on (engine off) and jiggle the turn signal arm while stepping on the brakes...if one side is intermittent then the canceling mechanism is the culprit.
On my first 63 I had to wiggle the turn signal leaver to get the right brake working .Just made sure it was working in Mirror before I left out. You say the problem is under horn button not out side at bottom .
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2015 | 10:45 AM
  #23  
rtruman's Avatar
rtruman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 444
Default

Good article got it thanks
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2015 | 11:04 AM
  #24  
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Default

The article that I posted is for a C1...

Yes...the usual issue with the flaky rear brake light is the canceling mechanism not centering after the turn signal is used....that is almost certainly under the horn button.
Very different setup in C1s vs '63 cars.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2015 | 07:23 PM
  #25  
davekp78's Avatar
davekp78
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by davekp78
I'm having a cancelling issue on a '56. The cancelling assembly looks OK. Maybe the hub?
Any hints?
I found the problem. The cancelling "levers" were very sloppy on their pivots. Careful peening of the pivots cured the slop and solved the problem.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2015 | 02:58 PM
  #26  
Jofa1963's Avatar
Jofa1963
Advanced
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 2
From: Northeast USA
Default

Originally Posted by Michael A Riley
Had similar issue in my '63 a while back. I cleaned the connections at the firewall, messed with the brake pedal sensor, changed bulbs....what I finally figured out was that the cable which attaches to the turn signal switch was just slightly out of adjustment. If you can fit your head under the dash, try moving the turn signal switch to dead center and see if all brake lights work then. It's a pain to get that little cable that connects the turn signal switch to the turn signal lever, adjusted just right. Just a tiny fraction too far one way or the other and lights are sporadic.
Great info here as always guys! THANK YOU!

I was just under the car with a test light and wiring diagram and a thought occurred to me that I'd better do a search of the forum - and of course you guys have answered the problem already!!

Adjusted the turn switch and brake lights are working again!!

Quick Question:

When brake lights are on, its only the two inbound lights that light up?

Last edited by Jofa1963; Aug 12, 2015 at 03:08 PM. Reason: Q added
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2015 | 04:08 PM
  #27  
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Default

No -- on all vettes from 1961-1967 withOUT backup lights ... two lights on each side blink when signalling.... All FOUR lights light up for brakes. If braking and signalling at the same time then the two lights on the non-signalling side go bright when the brake is pushed...
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:20 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE