first thing to check is the brake switch if that's all that's wrong, your taillights and everything are working normally correct?
NO Brake Lights - 1984 - HELP
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
NO Brake Lights - 1984 - HELP
Hey guy's,
Car is an 84. All of the electrical appears to be working fine, with the exception of my brake lights. Some kind old lady pulled up next to me on the way home today and informed me they were out. I have checked the bulbs and fuses on the passenger side. Can anyone give me some suggestions here? Is there another fuse or switch possibly? The tail lights to turn on when I pull the headlight bulb, they just do not light when I apply the brake.
Car is an 84. All of the electrical appears to be working fine, with the exception of my brake lights. Some kind old lady pulled up next to me on the way home today and informed me they were out. I have checked the bulbs and fuses on the passenger side. Can anyone give me some suggestions here? Is there another fuse or switch possibly? The tail lights to turn on when I pull the headlight bulb, they just do not light when I apply the brake.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
Have you checked the switch on the brake pedal arm? I don't have a book or first hand knowledge of the '84 but these switches are typically closed when the brake is NOT engaged and open when the brake IS engaged. There should be power to the switch on both terminals when the pedal is up and only on one leg when the pedal is down. So, with the switch disconnected, the brake lights should be on solid. Again, I don't know the '84s so it could very well be the reverse of everything I wrote here but either way your next stop (pun) is the switch.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
I will test the wires tomorrow morning. If they check out fine, does anyone know if this switch is tied into any relays behind the dash?
The Haynes manual I have is pretty vague.
The Haynes manual I have is pretty vague.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 295
From: Galveston & Belton Texas
You obviously are not getting 12v to your rear harness stop light circuit or the ground maybe bad. Suspect it isn't your ground as everything esle seems to work-right? Think the only things that can go wrong at this point would be every bulb bad, the rear harness connector near the front of passenger door needs checking or cleaning, the brake pedal switch is incorrectly adjusted or needs replacement, or something else that will just frustrate you. Do you get 12v across the fuse terminals? I would really suspect the brake switch first. Take the two-wire terminal connector off the switch and put a jumper wire in--if your brake lights come on it is in your switch. I have an 84 also and the circuit is extremely simple-maybe? I'll stick with you until you get her fixed.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by quiksilver458
I will test the wires tomorrow morning. If they check out fine, does anyone know if this switch is tied into any relays behind the dash?
The Haynes manual I have is pretty vague.
The Haynes manual I have is pretty vague.
I am CFI-EFI, and I approve this message.
RACE ON!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 120
From: AZ
Can I come to toast marshmallows at the fire?
The bulbs are the common 1157s and have two filaments. The circuit routes through the flasher b/c the stop and flasher uses the same, brighter filament.
I modified my car to export type lights and ran a single wire from the brake ON/switch CLOSED side straight to the (now two) brake lights; no relay, as was stated.
The bulbs are a bit of a PITA to reach but it is possilbe that they all failed at some time, not necessarily at once; just never got changed. Checking one bulb may be easier than pulling under dash panels, etc.
The bulbs are the common 1157s and have two filaments. The circuit routes through the flasher b/c the stop and flasher uses the same, brighter filament.
I modified my car to export type lights and ran a single wire from the brake ON/switch CLOSED side straight to the (now two) brake lights; no relay, as was stated.
The bulbs are a bit of a PITA to reach but it is possilbe that they all failed at some time, not necessarily at once; just never got changed. Checking one bulb may be easier than pulling under dash panels, etc.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 18
From: Lawrenceville Georgia
Before you start all that jumping wires and pulling bulbs, do the hazard lights work? This is the same circuit and the same bulb filament as the brake lights. Also does the turn signal lights work? Again same circuit. If "yes", then it is simply the brake light switch. A very easy part to replace.
Joel
Joel
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Thank you all for the help and suggestions. The first thing I did last night when reading the brakes shared the same circuit as the hazards was to check to see if my hazards worked. Sure enough, they did. I went to advance first thing this morning, picked up a new switch... viola!! I now have brake lights again. Thank you all!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 295
From: Galveston & Belton Texas
Disregard my stupid posting here. I hadn't read the humorous reference to "burning the haynes manual". I thought the burning reference was about the jumper wire.I need to be enlightened? For those who are worried about toasting marshmellows, then don't ever step on your brake pedal again! Touching a jumper across this brake switch connector has the same effect as the plastic brake switch closing the same circuit. If your brake lights don't come on then the problem isn't the brake switch. It will be somewhere else in the circuit. What do I not understand here about this 20A fused brake/hazz circuit? I have a 58, 72, 84, 88 and 90 with essentially the same brake switch operation and now I am afraid to step on any of the brake pedals for fear of all of them burning up when the circuit closes! Not trying to be sensitive. I just really want to understand these things too.
Last edited by tgtexas02; Feb 7, 2008 at 11:52 AM. Reason: My error
