hazzard switch???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: san jose california
hazzard switch???
good morning everybody, i've changed my hazzard switch over 4 times throught this year because of my brake lights not turning on when I brake only the little tail light turns on, at first I thought it was my luck but last night I checked just for the heck of it and it was bad again, so I think I broke a record on this issue, I'm going to change my hazzard switch a fifth time, anyone have an idea why this is happening. any info will be more than welcome thanx in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
What do you mean by the brake lights not turning on but only the little tail light? You mean the third brake light is the only one that works? If yes, I would suspect a wiring issue at this point. I'd first check the connectors for a damaged terminal that you move enough during the hazard switch install that it make contact for a while.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
I agree the root cause is not the hazard switch at this point. Even if you were getting some inferior type of non OEM one I really doubt that the switch is the issue. I would consider a relocation until you find the problem, or you may just leave it that way since to change it would then only take about 30 seconds. It is most likely an issue in the interim wiring section that is also discussed in my link. Here is my link:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...elocation.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...elocation.html
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 670
Likes: 46
From: Indiana
In my 2000 vert I once forgot to reconnect the hazard switch when reinstalling the dash. With the hazard switch disconnected I still got the inner two brake lights to come on with the center brake light - only the 2 outer brake lights didn't function.
Maybe someone has rewired the lights such that the hazard switch is now connected to all 4 of the lights and the extra load is what is killing your hazard switches???
Maybe someone has rewired the lights such that the hazard switch is now connected to all 4 of the lights and the extra load is what is killing your hazard switches???
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
In my 2000 vert I once forgot to reconnect the hazard switch when reinstalling the dash. With the hazard switch disconnected I still got the inner two brake lights to come on with the center brake light - only the 2 outer brake lights didn't function.
Maybe someone has rewired the lights such that the hazard switch is now connected to all 4 of the lights and the extra load is what is killing your hazard switches???
Maybe someone has rewired the lights such that the hazard switch is now connected to all 4 of the lights and the extra load is what is killing your hazard switches???
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 670
Likes: 46
From: Indiana
Before taking off the dashboard again to plug in the hazard switch I confirmed in the GM tech manual schematic that the inner two lights do not run through the hazard switch.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
In what tech manual?
Look at the schematic Dadaroo posted. The Dk Green and Yellow wires on the bottom left go to the rear turn/brake lights. On the C5's with the solid red tail lights, each wire runs both turn/brake lights for one side. If you follow the wiring, the feed for those wire passes through the hazard switch. Further upstream and not shown is the tap for the 3rd brake light which is the only brake light not run through the hazard switch. If your car has solid red tail lights and the outer brake lights work without the hazard switch connected then your wiring has been altered.
I can't tell you what the Euro tail lights do for sure. I believe all 4 work as brake lights powered directly from the brake switch and not through the hazard or multi-function switch and then only the outers have the turn signal filament. The inners have an extra back-up light filament.
At any rate, having the power for all 4 brake lights passing through the hazard switch is not an issue. Most of the C5's made are wired that way from the factory.
Look at the schematic Dadaroo posted. The Dk Green and Yellow wires on the bottom left go to the rear turn/brake lights. On the C5's with the solid red tail lights, each wire runs both turn/brake lights for one side. If you follow the wiring, the feed for those wire passes through the hazard switch. Further upstream and not shown is the tap for the 3rd brake light which is the only brake light not run through the hazard switch. If your car has solid red tail lights and the outer brake lights work without the hazard switch connected then your wiring has been altered.
I can't tell you what the Euro tail lights do for sure. I believe all 4 work as brake lights powered directly from the brake switch and not through the hazard or multi-function switch and then only the outers have the turn signal filament. The inners have an extra back-up light filament.
At any rate, having the power for all 4 brake lights passing through the hazard switch is not an issue. Most of the C5's made are wired that way from the factory.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Dec 1, 2014 at 09:54 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 4
From: cinnaminson n.j.
St. Jude Donor '14
Unplug the hazard switch. Inspect terminals j and k for damage. Connect an ammeter across terminals j and k of the connector. Step on the brake and read the meter. It should read 9 amps with 3157 or 3057 bulbs. If it's higher it's probably the cause of repeated hazard switch failure. Since they are supplied by a 20 amp fuse the amperage draw could be high with out popping the fuse.
What brake lamp bulbs are you using?
What brake lamp bulbs are you using?
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 670
Likes: 46
From: Indiana
In what tech manual?
Look at the schematic Dadaroo posted. The Dk Green and Yellow wires on the bottom left go to the rear turn/brake lights. On the C5's with the solid red tail lights, each wire runs both turn/brake lights for one side. If you follow the wiring, the feed for those wire passes through the hazard switch. Further upstream and not shown is the tap for the 3rd brake light which is the only brake light not run through the hazard switch. If your car has solid red tail lights and the outer brake lights work without the hazard switch connected then your wiring has been altered.
I can't tell you what the Euro tail lights do for sure. I believe all 4 work as brake lights powered directly from the brake switch and not through the hazard or multi-function switch and then only the outers have the turn signal filament. The inners have an extra back-up light filament.
At any rate, having the power for all 4 brake lights passing through the hazard switch is not an issue. Most of the C5's made are wired that way from the factory.
Look at the schematic Dadaroo posted. The Dk Green and Yellow wires on the bottom left go to the rear turn/brake lights. On the C5's with the solid red tail lights, each wire runs both turn/brake lights for one side. If you follow the wiring, the feed for those wire passes through the hazard switch. Further upstream and not shown is the tap for the 3rd brake light which is the only brake light not run through the hazard switch. If your car has solid red tail lights and the outer brake lights work without the hazard switch connected then your wiring has been altered.
I can't tell you what the Euro tail lights do for sure. I believe all 4 work as brake lights powered directly from the brake switch and not through the hazard or multi-function switch and then only the outers have the turn signal filament. The inners have an extra back-up light filament.
At any rate, having the power for all 4 brake lights passing through the hazard switch is not an issue. Most of the C5's made are wired that way from the factory.
I'll have to review those schematics, but IIRC the wires you are referring to on the bottom left of the above schematic are only going to the two outer light locations, at least on the 2000s.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
You're looking at a European schematic. All North American C5's have the brake and signal filaments on each side in parallel.
It doesn't really matter. Your theory about the brake pass-through contact failing because it's driving all 4 brake lights is wrong. The factory wired lots of C5's that way.
It doesn't really matter. Your theory about the brake pass-through contact failing because it's driving all 4 brake lights is wrong. The factory wired lots of C5's that way.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Dec 2, 2014 at 12:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
Not sure how his car is wired. Exports (according to my FSM) do not feed the stop lights via the hazard switch. Exports have the 4 stop light filaments and the CHMSL all fed by one Yellow wire.
If the OP does have an export then the hazard switch is not even in the circuit.
If the OP does have an export then the hazard switch is not even in the circuit.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 376
Likes: 21
From: Coos Bay Oregon
If your hazard switch is bad, you will have problems with your turn signals. It is most likely not your hazard switch. I would start at the tail lights and work your way back. Make sure you have good connections and a good meter so you can check continuity of all the circuits.
Any codes showing? That would be a good help.
Any codes showing? That would be a good help.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Actually, there is a contact in the hazard switch that the power for all brake lights except the center light has to pass through, so yes it could be the hazard switch without having any issues with the turn signals.