80 brake switch question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
80 brake switch question
My brake lights do not function. Under the dash, there is a switch that is released when you press the brake pedal. I'm assuming that is the switch that turns the brake lights on. However, there is nothing connected to it.
What color wires are supposed to be connected to it? Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the brakes?
Thanks.
What color wires are supposed to be connected to it? Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the brakes?
Thanks.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 601
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From: Nottingham
Re: 80 brake switch question (Ak. Mal)
If your still having problems, I can email you a few wiring diagrams for the 80....
I've never had a good look around under there on mine, but I know there's a switch that does the brake lights, and also cuts the power to the cruise control. But, I'm not sure if they are one and the same switch, or if there are actually two seperate ones down there. I'll have a look through the diagrams - let me know if you want me to mail you....
:cheers:
I've never had a good look around under there on mine, but I know there's a switch that does the brake lights, and also cuts the power to the cruise control. But, I'm not sure if they are one and the same switch, or if there are actually two seperate ones down there. I'll have a look through the diagrams - let me know if you want me to mail you....
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Re: 80 brake switch question (theoUK)
Whatever diagrams you can email me I would really appreciate. Please send them to jgcox77@hotmail.com
My car does not have cruise control. I have only found one switch that is used by the brake pedal.
Thanks a lot,
Jeff
My car does not have cruise control. I have only found one switch that is used by the brake pedal.
Thanks a lot,
Jeff
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: 80 brake switch question (Ak. Mal)
The stop lamp switch should have an orange wire and a white wire attached. The orange wire is circuit 40 (power) and the white wire is circuit 17 (brake signal - feed to the directional signal switch from the stop switch).
The white wire feeds into the Directional Signal/Hazard Switch Assembly where signals from the stop lamp switch, the traffic hazard flasher and the directional signal flasher are sorted out (technical term :lol: ) and a signal is sent to the tail lamps. Circuit 18 (yellow) goes to the left tail lamp, and circuit 19 (green) goes to the right tail lamp.
There are very good wiring diagrams with explanations of circuit operation in the GM Corvette Shop Manual.
The white wire feeds into the Directional Signal/Hazard Switch Assembly where signals from the stop lamp switch, the traffic hazard flasher and the directional signal flasher are sorted out (technical term :lol: ) and a signal is sent to the tail lamps. Circuit 18 (yellow) goes to the left tail lamp, and circuit 19 (green) goes to the right tail lamp.
There are very good wiring diagrams with explanations of circuit operation in the GM Corvette Shop Manual.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 601
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From: Nottingham
Re: 80 brake switch question (mapman)
You've got mail...
Yep, I've just had a look at the diagrams and it seems the one switch is used for cruise and brake lights - only I guess that doesn't really matter since you don't have cruise :D
Still, at least I know that now - might be handy info one day!
Hope that little lot helps a bit...
Cheers
Theo
Yep, I've just had a look at the diagrams and it seems the one switch is used for cruise and brake lights - only I guess that doesn't really matter since you don't have cruise :D
Still, at least I know that now - might be handy info one day!
Hope that little lot helps a bit...
Cheers
Theo
Thread Starter
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Re: 80 brake switch question (theoUK)
Mapman,
I know you answered my question, now I just have to figure out what you told me.
theoUK,
Thank you. I now know what color wires to look for. It appears I'm in search of a harness with white and orange wires.
I have found a wire harness fitting that description, but it does not fit onto the switch in question. The switch has vertical blades sticking out of it. The harness has horizontal female connectors. Is it possible I have the wrong switch installed?
I know you answered my question, now I just have to figure out what you told me.
theoUK,
Thank you. I now know what color wires to look for. It appears I'm in search of a harness with white and orange wires.
I have found a wire harness fitting that description, but it does not fit onto the switch in question. The switch has vertical blades sticking out of it. The harness has horizontal female connectors. Is it possible I have the wrong switch installed?
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 601
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From: Nottingham
Re: 80 brake switch question (Ak. Mal)
If you have a look at one of those pages i sent you, I think the switch for the auto model is different than the one for the manual. This is because the auto's brake switch has to incorporate the transmission lockup switch, i.e the thing that stops the auto box from staying in lockup when you press the brake. So what have you got, auto or manual? As you can see from the pictures, the manual switch looks simpler, as it only needs to control the brake lights. The Auto one has more than one pair of terminals coming out of it. Perhaps you have a manual when you should have an auto or vice versa. Or maybe you just have a switch from completely the wrong car... Seems a bit unlikely though!
The diagram doesn't give too much in the way of details of the pin layout unfortunately.
The diagram doesn't give too much in the way of details of the pin layout unfortunately.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Re: 80 brake switch question (theoUK)
It is a manual car. For the life of me, I can't remember if the switch had two or three vertical spades sticking out of it. Guess I'll check late tonight.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Re: 80 brake switch question (theoUK)
I checked out the switch last night.
It has two places where a wire harness can be attached. Coming out of the top was a harness with a white and orange wire. Exactly like the schematic said.
Is there supposed to be something attached to the back, or is that for the cruise control to hook into the same switch??
It has two places where a wire harness can be attached. Coming out of the top was a harness with a white and orange wire. Exactly like the schematic said.
Is there supposed to be something attached to the back, or is that for the cruise control to hook into the same switch??
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Re: 80 brake switch question (Ak. Mal)
Yeah, by the looks of it you have a switch for an auto, with a connection for the cruise harness. That shouldn't make any difference to the function of the brake lights though.
So it's hooked up and you're still not getting any brake lights? Sorry to ask the obvious question, but have you checked the fuse? If that's good, then I guess you want to have a look to make sure the switch is working by hooking up a continuity (ohm) meter to it...
Maybe its stuck in, so when you push the brake, the little plunger, or whatever it is, isn't releasing to close the switch....
So it's hooked up and you're still not getting any brake lights? Sorry to ask the obvious question, but have you checked the fuse? If that's good, then I guess you want to have a look to make sure the switch is working by hooking up a continuity (ohm) meter to it...
Maybe its stuck in, so when you push the brake, the little plunger, or whatever it is, isn't releasing to close the switch....
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Re: 80 brake switch question (theoUK)
I only had enough time to pull the switch out and see the correct wires attached to it. I do need to check the fuse again. I replaced it two nights ago. I have had very little time to work on this week. My wife has agreed to give me most of Sunday to tinker around.
I'm going to check the fuse then the continuity of the switch.
Another stupid question. What tail lights light up with what function?
The outside lights function as turn/brake/tail lights. The inside lights function as the backup, but do they light up for any other function?
I'm going to check the fuse then the continuity of the switch.
Another stupid question. What tail lights light up with what function?
The outside lights function as turn/brake/tail lights. The inside lights function as the backup, but do they light up for any other function?
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 601
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From: Nottingham
Re: 80 brake switch question (Ak. Mal)
I'm glad your Mrs understands the importance of having time to play with the vette :D
As for the stop lights, things are a little different for me, as my car has been modified for the UK. The difference is that we have to have orange turn indicators on the front and back, so we can't use flashing red stop lights like you guys do. That means my reversing lights have had orange bulbs put in them and are now turn indicators (bit of a pig having no reversing lights!) But to the best of my knowledge, you've pretty much summed it up - the clear lights in the middle are back up only.
As for the stop lights, things are a little different for me, as my car has been modified for the UK. The difference is that we have to have orange turn indicators on the front and back, so we can't use flashing red stop lights like you guys do. That means my reversing lights have had orange bulbs put in them and are now turn indicators (bit of a pig having no reversing lights!) But to the best of my knowledge, you've pretty much summed it up - the clear lights in the middle are back up only.