Hi Everyone, I am new here, and a new (to me) 'vette owner. I've been reading posts for a while, trying to get "vette educated", and now I've got his prob with my car that I could use some advise on. My car is a '91 white automatic, with a removable top, its pretty fine looking- it has Z06 wheels on it which really dress up the car. I get compliments on it all the time, so its definatly fun.
Anyway, when I step on the brakes, the only light that lights up is the rectangular strip, located above that row of 4 brake lights- they don't light up at all. I took a look at the bulbs and they all look good - I changed a couple anyway as a test, and still, no brake lights. The auto door locks don't work and the mirrors arent responding either, they did about 1 month back. So, I'm figuiring that electrical stuff is just fatiguing being 15 years old, Im not real concerned about mirrors and auto door locks ('just telling you all for more info on the condition). However, I have to get this Brake light prob fixed soon, before I get hit in the back by another driver, or get a ticket. So, based on your guys' experience, do you have any thoughts about WHAT and WHERE to look first? I realize there's a "switch" up under the dash, but that one center light works, so does that eliminate that switch? Do I need to just start tracing wires?
I'm mildly mechanical and for the electrics, I can change bulbs and tell if a wire appears shot...but I want to try.
Thanks for your thoughts

 

The brake light switch at the pedal is a two-part device. One part operates the center-mounted light, the other operates the other four brake lights. Check the switch.

Congrats on the new toy, and welcome to the neighborhood.

Be well,

SJW

 

Thank you very much...I'm off to the parts store!
Lapis

 

Welcome and good luck with the car. Sounds like the brake switch. I've yet to replace the switch on my Corvette, but have on just about all my others vehicle.

 

After you replaced some bulbs, did you try the turn signals to make sure they worked? I think the brake light circuit is tied to the turn signal switch on the steering column.

 

I just fixed my brake lights so I might be able to help. A quick way to check half the circuit is to activate the turn signals or flashers and see if the brake lights are active. if this works you can pull the brake pedal switch and bypass it to see if that activates the lights. My problem was that the sterring wheel harness connector at the base of the steering column had come loose and was failing to make connection between the brake pedal switch and the hazard switch assembly on the steering column. The circuit is pretty straight forward if you have the assembly manual.

 

Yes, I did try the turn signals and the do work, while those brake lights do not. I'm hoping that further confirms that the switch is the trouble. I'll be relplacing that switch tomorrow, I found that you have to be a bit of a Chinese gymnast to get under that dash and up to that switch- theres just about no room there!
Thanks again for the advice.
Lapis

 

The brake light circuit to the rear panel lights passes through the turn signal switch, while the circuit to the high light does not. The wiring in the column is subject to a lot of flexing with use of the tilt & telescopic function. A new turn signal switch comes with new wire leads to get down the column. The signal switch replacement is mostly a right-side-up job.

I had the same brake light problem on my 87. It was prolonged by the fact that the rear panel lights worked every time I tested them in the garage ... with the column up. I wound up at the dealership, where an astute tech figured out that they stopped working when the column was put down into driving position.

 

Thanks Rich- more good info, I'm going to stick that Brake light switch in now that I have it.However, if that doesn't fix it, I'l know where to look next.
I really appreciate all the advise.
Lapis

 

Back to you Rich...on to doing as you suggest, I did replace that brake light switch and that did not fix it. So, I'm putting in a turn signal switch - hopefully this process of elimination will fix it, If I were electronic savy I suppose all this could be checked with a meter, so for now its the process of elimination.
Thanks again for your help,
Lapis/Don