problems with brake lights
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: plano tx
problems with brake lights
my brake lights dont seem to like to work.. i have chekced all fuses and replaced the stop/hazard to be sure. sometimes they work but it seems to be only for a few minutes or so.. i also checked the switch on the brake pedal to see if that wasnt being set right.. it is but still no lights.. anyone know whats up. like is this a common problem.. i also have one more question. i have just got my vette and the guy didnt have an owners manual. but i have this switch next to my AC/HEAT controls. it just flips on and a green light comes on but i cant tell what it does. any clue?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 1
Re: problems with brake lights (I978vette)
I'm not sure how different my '77 is from your 78, but two problems were affecting my brake lights:
1. The wiring harness had come loose behind the driver and fallen onto the muffler at some point in the car's life. This melted quite a few wires together and destroyed quite a bit of insulation.
2. The wiring harness' ground at the driver's rear corner was just hanging.
After cleaning up those two problems, my brake lights behave much better.
One problem I still have is that I have to depress the pedal an inch or two (about that, at any rate, my brakes are starting to grab... ) before the brake lights will come on. I haven't looked for it yet, but I understand that the brake light switch and a "bundle" of wires are on the steering column and can create some problems if defective or loose.
1. The wiring harness had come loose behind the driver and fallen onto the muffler at some point in the car's life. This melted quite a few wires together and destroyed quite a bit of insulation.
2. The wiring harness' ground at the driver's rear corner was just hanging.
After cleaning up those two problems, my brake lights behave much better.
One problem I still have is that I have to depress the pedal an inch or two (about that, at any rate, my brakes are starting to grab... ) before the brake lights will come on. I haven't looked for it yet, but I understand that the brake light switch and a "bundle" of wires are on the steering column and can create some problems if defective or loose.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: greenville mi
Re: problems with brake lights (I978vette)
I have a chevy truck that acted about the same way as your vette and I found it to be a faulty switch. It may not be the problem but it could be something worth checking out!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: plano tx
Re: problems with brake lights (I978vette)
i went today and got a new switch.. gonna see if that works.. its just strange.. i played with the switch the other day and out of no where the lights worked.. then 15mins later.. nothing.. i played with the switch again and this time with no luck.. im on my way to the garage to change the switch out.. and Thanks for the info on that switch.. seeing i have tinted rear windows being replaced i now know the original owner didnt disconnect the switch... using redefrost on tinted windows makes the tint all crappy.. so when i get the new tint the switch is gonna be disconnected.. thanks everyone for helpy out a newbie in this world of vettes.. being a recent 5.0 owner i have found more help here than i used to with other mustang owner.. most of them wont help for fear of giving away there secret power.. LOL in most cases they just didnt want your car better than theres..
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 0
From: waller texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: problems with brake lights (I978vette)
I had same problem with my 81 and since I had just dropped the steering column down a little to get at speedo then I guessed maybe switch gang plug was loose.I reached to the gang plug and pulled it down tight against the switch.Brake lights have been fine ever since.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,360
Likes: 1,059
From: Virginia USA
Re: problems with brake lights (all smiles 81)
Corvette Fever Magazine had an article about this problem in the last issue and it turned out to be the turn signal switch in the steering column.
John
John
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 473
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From: Centreville, VA USA
Re: problems with brake lights (theandies)
I spent HOURS troubleshooting my brake wires. This included replacing the whole rear wire harness (mine had also fallen on the mufflers and melted). My problem was that the brake fuse would blow after driving the car for anytime from 5 minutes to a couple of hours.
Turned out to be a short in the turn signal switch. Had that replaced and voila no more brake fuses...
Tim M.
Turned out to be a short in the turn signal switch. Had that replaced and voila no more brake fuses...
Tim M.