No brake lights - possible hazard switch issue
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
No brake lights - possible hazard switch issue
I noticed about two weeks ago that I had no brake lights, so I looked up the bulb numbers for the tail lights here on the forum. I got several results with people having the same problem, and they had checked fuses / changed bulbs / etc., and in every one it was something to do with the hazard switch.
I'm thinking I may have the same problem, because my hazard switch has been acting up pretty much the entire 4+ years I've owned the car. --Turn signals don't work when I need them, and if I fiddle with the switch by pushing it in and out a few times they might work, if not a sharp whack on the dash will get it..
I think I remember somebody having and upgraded switch here? Not a factory replacement (that will just crap out again eventually), but a better one? Is there any fix to the switch itself or is it all internal stuff that we can't reach?
I've read all the threads in the sticky at the top. Wiring in a flasher isn't out of the question, but I just want to see what all the options are. Main thing is that I need my brake lights back
I'm thinking I may have the same problem, because my hazard switch has been acting up pretty much the entire 4+ years I've owned the car. --Turn signals don't work when I need them, and if I fiddle with the switch by pushing it in and out a few times they might work, if not a sharp whack on the dash will get it..
I think I remember somebody having and upgraded switch here? Not a factory replacement (that will just crap out again eventually), but a better one? Is there any fix to the switch itself or is it all internal stuff that we can't reach?
I've read all the threads in the sticky at the top. Wiring in a flasher isn't out of the question, but I just want to see what all the options are. Main thing is that I need my brake lights back
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 2
From: Denver CO
When my brake lights went out it was the multi-function switch on the column. Several months prior to my MF switch failure, I too had the intermittent turn signal issue which was the flasher. You may have two problems.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
So the brake lights could possibly be tied to the multifunction switch in some way?
I have already rebuilt it once, and I really need a new one. I thought that the problem had to be coming from the hazard switch. I had no idea it could be coming from the multifunction switch.
I have already rebuilt it once, and I really need a new one. I thought that the problem had to be coming from the hazard switch. I had no idea it could be coming from the multifunction switch.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
It's doubtful your multifunction switch (MFS) would cause all the brake lights to fail at once. The individual left and right brake/turn signal filaments are switched by separate contacts in the MFS. You are most likely going to lose brake lights on the left or right side only with a MFS failure.
The brake power for the left and right brake/turn filaments passes through a single contact on the hazard switch. If you lose both left and right brake lights but still have the 3rd brake light then the hazard switch would be my first suspect.
The 3rd brake light does not pass through either of the above switches. If you don't have the 3rd brake light then the brake light switch on the brake pedal would be my first suspect.
Now, as for the signals not working very well either. That is another unrelated issue with the hazard switch. You can either replace it or put in a hyperflash bypass harness or just install a $7 flasher relay yourself.
The brake power for the left and right brake/turn filaments passes through a single contact on the hazard switch. If you lose both left and right brake lights but still have the 3rd brake light then the hazard switch would be my first suspect.
The 3rd brake light does not pass through either of the above switches. If you don't have the 3rd brake light then the brake light switch on the brake pedal would be my first suspect.
Now, as for the signals not working very well either. That is another unrelated issue with the hazard switch. You can either replace it or put in a hyperflash bypass harness or just install a $7 flasher relay yourself.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Just to note I am still dtruggling with this. It is eventually going to get me pulled over.
Another thing I checked, The tail light turn signals work as they are supposed to. When i turn them on, both lights on each side light up and flash. It is only the brake tail lights that are not illuminating.
I have been fighting with the hazard switch since day one. Like I mentioned, Sometimes when I go to turn my signals on, I have to push the hazard switch on and off real quick, just to get my signals to work. It's almost like it has a constant short.
Isn't there a replacement upgrade switch for these that is supposed to work better? If so, where can I find it?
Another thing I checked, The tail light turn signals work as they are supposed to. When i turn them on, both lights on each side light up and flash. It is only the brake tail lights that are not illuminating.
I have been fighting with the hazard switch since day one. Like I mentioned, Sometimes when I go to turn my signals on, I have to push the hazard switch on and off real quick, just to get my signals to work. It's almost like it has a constant short.
Isn't there a replacement upgrade switch for these that is supposed to work better? If so, where can I find it?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
As already explained, your hazard switch is bad. Just replace it, I've read something about an aftermarket one before but never about a "better" one.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
I am Going to give TheRadioFlyer's switch a try. I guess it is made similar to JW's.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
the hazard switch is a bitch to get to...I have a new one laying in the box for YV's car....intermittent turn signal issues 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
I did some searching on the fix and found several other people with the same problem here. I swear i read that this Electronic bypass will fix the issue..I could be wrong though.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 3
From: Queen Creek AZ (SE of Phoenix)
I am having the same problem. Only the HMSL works (High Mounted Stop Lamp). I changed the hazard switch in December because the turn signals only worked when I cycled the hazard switch.
I could not get an OEM hazard switch so I had to use an aftermarket. Sorry I didn't keep the box to tell you what to avoid.
But, does anyone have a suggestion on a replacement that will work more then 3 months?
I could not get an OEM hazard switch so I had to use an aftermarket. Sorry I didn't keep the box to tell you what to avoid.
But, does anyone have a suggestion on a replacement that will work more then 3 months?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Installed a new hazard switch and it fixed the problem! I didn't think it worked at first, but sure enough, after I had the car out and driving, I saw my brake lights on the chrome bumper of a vehicle behind me.
Just updating in case anybody else searches for a similar issue.
Just updating in case anybody else searches for a similar issue.