brake lights not working
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 65
Likes: 1
From: Fairfield N J
brake lights not working
Had the car garaged for a month or so. Took it out today and the brake lights do not work. The lights and turn signals work but no brake lights. Can anyone tell me where to start looking for the problem. I have no idea what I am looking for??
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Or you can check the white wire at the harmonica connector for power with the pedal pushed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 15
From: Confusion
The switch has a button that works when the pedal is pushed, check to see that the button isn't stuck in the switch. Instead of a push type switch the brake light switch is pushed in when the pedal is relaxed and comes out when the pedal is pushed, it might be stuck in the housing.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Confusion
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 15
From: Confusion
As for jumping, they probably mean to take a wire and hook it to a hot and touch the appropriate terminal to see if the lights work, and if you jump the switched side and they don't work then the switch is bad, the ammeter will tell you the same thing though
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
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From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
any chance you kicked a wire as you were getting in or out? This very thing happened to me and my brake lights went out. I reconnected the wire and had brake lights again. I just searched around down there for a wire with no home. Seems to me I kicked out an orange wire but it was awhile ago, could have been any color in my car anyway- I would be lost without my continuity tester.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 5
From: Meridianville Alabama
Had the same problem with my 66 recently. It had a capacitor/condensor connected in parallel with the brake switch. It was bad. I took it off and everything worked fine. It was there for radio noise suppression. Not sure this is true on C3s but it is worth a try.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
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From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Also see if you have 12 volts to the foot switch start by cleaning the grounds.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
Just take a short piece of wire and touch it to both of the contacts/terminals on the switch and see if the brake lights come on. Quick and cheap. If the brake light doesn't come on, a test light or multimeter will tell you if you have current to the hot side of the switch.
Even if the initial test indicates a bad switch, go ahead and buy a test light and meter...you'll use them. and use them.
Even if the initial test indicates a bad switch, go ahead and buy a test light and meter...you'll use them. and use them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
