96 corvette tail lights
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 25
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96 corvette tail lights
My 96 corvette stop lights don't work. The center stop light works when pressing the break pedal but the double tail lights don't have stop lights. Running lights and blinkers work fine. Today I try to replace the light bulbs and changing out the fuse but stop lights still dont work.
Any idea what I need to look for next?
Any help is appreciated.
Any idea what I need to look for next?
Any help is appreciated.
Last edited by rogal-96vette; Feb 7, 2016 at 07:34 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,167
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From: Kannapolis NC
If your description is accurate about the symptoms, the only thing that separates the turn signal voltage from the brake lamp voltage (since the high center light is working) is the turn or hazard assemblies. Do the hazards work? The turn and brake lamps use the same filaments, contacts, wires, and grounds at the rear of the car. The brake switch puts voltage on the high center lamp and to the hazard ***'y on two different lines. You appear to have lost connection between the hazard switch input and output for the brakes. Press and release your hazard switch rapidly a few times and see what happens with your brake lights. Also, post back whether the hazards are working or not.
Another possibility is the turn signal switch on the column. The voltage from the brake light switch goes up there and feeds to the brake lights when no turn position is selected. When you move the switch to the position you want, the voltage is interrupted and the voltage from the turn flasher is inserted instead. If the white wire from the brake switch up to the turn signal is broken or disconnected, or if the contacts in the turn switch are bad, that voltage can't pass through to the brake lamps. The high brake light does not feed through the turn signal switch, so that would match your symptoms.
Another possibility is the turn signal switch on the column. The voltage from the brake light switch goes up there and feeds to the brake lights when no turn position is selected. When you move the switch to the position you want, the voltage is interrupted and the voltage from the turn flasher is inserted instead. If the white wire from the brake switch up to the turn signal is broken or disconnected, or if the contacts in the turn switch are bad, that voltage can't pass through to the brake lamps. The high brake light does not feed through the turn signal switch, so that would match your symptoms.
Last edited by 65GGvert; Feb 7, 2016 at 08:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2016
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Ok,just checked hazard lights and they work. I also turned them on and off multiple times hoping stop light will work but no luck. I bought the car 2 weeks ago and they didn't work than, I thought it was the fuse but no.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
I think you've narrowed down your problem to the voltage for the brakes not getting through the turn signal switch. Either the white wire coming up from the brake switch isn't connected to the switch, or you have bad internal contacts in the turn signal switch. The turn signal switch contacts are still good, but the two that feed the brake lights around it when not turned on are not working. Step on the brake and wiggle the turn signal switch selector and see if they flash off and on. If you can put pressure on the selector shaft in any direction and get the brake lights on momentarily, that will tell you for sure.
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from what 65g said it should be good there but can trace it.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Feb 7, 2016 at 10:32 PM.
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
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When you get under there if you've done all of the shaking/jiggling mentioned earlier. You'll need a test light to check the "P" terminal @C204 to the switch harness. It will be a WHITE wire and since your CHMSL works it's assumed the SLS is working so if there's 12V to "P" in C204 then the directional switch would be considered at fault. If you had a relationship with a parts house you could buy, plug in and the stop lights should work as a test, return it if not.
With HAZARDS ON I believe the CHMSL should still light. Does it?
With HAZARDS ON I believe the CHMSL should still light. Does it?
Last edited by WVZR-1; Feb 8, 2016 at 11:18 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
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Multi switch problems
My 96 corvette stop lights don't work. The center stop light works when pressing the break pedal but the double tail lights don't have stop lights. Running lights and blinkers work fine. Today I try to replace the light bulbs and changing out the fuse but stop lights still dont work.
Any idea what I need to look for next?
Any help is appreciated.
Any idea what I need to look for next?
Any help is appreciated.