Brake Lights

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Nov 20, 2005 | 09:13 PM

1968vertcop

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Intermediate

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 29

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Brake Lights

I haven't had my 68 Vert long but when I bought it the brake lights were working, even the fiber optics. This weekend I found that they have since stopped working. I still have rear parking lights, and signals, but no brake lights or back up lights. Any suggestions?

Nov 21, 2005 | 03:16 AM

grybdn

Pro

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 728

Likes: 1

From: Patchogue New York

did you check you break light swicth, it's a little button that pops out when you step on the brake pedal.

I had a problem, I had no tail lights, mine ended up being the headlight switch.

Last edited by grybdn; Nov 21, 2005 at 03:19 AM.

Nov 21, 2005 | 08:53 AM

1968vertcop

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I have tail lights, signals, flashers , all that but no stop lights. I looked at the swithcs, and on mine it is there, but past that I don't really know what I am looking at.

Nov 21, 2005 | 08:58 AM

rihwoods

Race Director

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 16,100

Likes: 17

Did you check the bulbs ? Your stop lights have two filiments..one for stop and one for running lights...(Bulb 1157) I think....just replaced one..same deal as yours..

My back up lights have been modified...only the red ring lights up..no back up...

Last edited by rihwoods; Nov 21, 2005 at 09:03 AM.

Nov 21, 2005 | 01:15 PM

1968vertcop

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Well I thought it may be something more difficult than that since they all went out at once. My reverse light are under my bumper, it is a 68. I'll look at the bulbs though. thanks

Nov 21, 2005 | 05:30 PM

62fuelie

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 3,025

Likes: 12

From: Pleasant Grove AL

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1968vertcop

If all the other lights work, the brake light switch under the dash is the most likely culprit. The turn signals are the same circuit, so if they work it's not the bulbs or a ground. Check the switch with a test light to see if you have power in and power out when the pedal is depressed. If thee re is no power in, check the fuse panel. If power in and nothing out, check the switch itself and also the adjustment of the switch.

Nov 21, 2005 | 10:13 PM

PRNDL

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 26,545

Likes: 46

From: Huntersville NC

First of all, your 68 brake light switch is different from everybody else's, It is not a pushbutton type thing. It is a 68 only one year part. It is a little higher up the brake pedal but it still is engaged by the brake pedal so you should be able to see it.

Are you sure your backup (reverse) lights worked previously? I don't know if the reverse lights and the brake lights share a common ground, but when 2 things go at the same time like that, a bad ground is often the problem.

I had a 68 brake switch go bad on me. To test the switch I simply bypassed it: I connected the wire in front of the switch to the wire behind the switch and bingo, the brake lights went on. I also retrofitted (or bubba-ed, some might say) a standard brakelight switch to fit in my 68.

here is the 68 brakelight switch:

Here is what every other year uses:

Last edited by PRNDL; Nov 21, 2005 at 10:27 PM.

Nov 22, 2005 | 11:19 AM

1968vertcop

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 29

Likes: 0

thanks, I will try a jumper to see if the lights work that way.

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Nov 22, 2005 | 11:49 AM

Q's 68

Racer

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 427

Likes: 0

From: Cary Illinois

Hey, PRDNL...

How were you able to bubba your brake light switch??? Any pictures? I'm having the exact same problem on my end and if the brake light switch is bad, something tells me no one has made a replacement for a long, long time (am I wrong???)

Q

Nov 22, 2005 | 12:02 PM

#10

PRNDL

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 26,545

Likes: 46

From: Huntersville NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q's 68

Actually, the 68 brakelight switch is still around. At least it still shows up in the AC Delco online parts catalog, and vendors still have it, although it costs around $50 vs $5 for the other kind. (So for price alone some might want to switch the switch.) I find this very surprising, even puzzling, considering that as far as I know the part was only used in 1968 corvettes.

As for the retrofit, someone else on the forum had written it up and posted pics and I followed his lead. I will search the archives for you and see what I can turn up. It is pretty straight forward. The only trick is finding a nice piece of metal that you can use as a bracket to hold the switch. I had an used shelf bracket that I easily bent, cut, and drilled a hole to fit.

p.s. Now, when I back the vette out of my garage, part of my routine is to back up close to the wall at the end of my driveway and check for the reflection of my brake lights! Make sure they still work!

Here ya go, "Bubba does brakelights" by yours truly!

(wow! 3.5 years ago)
For some reason, the pic of my finished product has gone missing, but you get the idea.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=3&arch=1

Last edited by PRNDL; Nov 22, 2005 at 12:07 PM.