C5 1998 Brake Lights won't work
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
C5 1998 Brake Lights won't work
1998 with 45,000mi I’ve owned for 4 yrs. The stop/brake lights (all 4) don’t work at all but the 3rd center light works. I don’t know when this started but two people stopped me a couple of days ago to tell me. Bulbs are OK. The hazards front and rear work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the hazards. The tail lights work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the tail lights. The turns signals work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the turn signals.
I have checked the 20A #8 fuse and it’s OK. I have power to the stop/brake switch (orange wire) and the switch works when I press the brake pedal (power at the Lt blue and white wires). Also, jumped across the stop/brake switch connector (orange to Lt blue and white wires) to eliminate the switch and have no stop/brake lights. I have checked the ground continuity at the bulbs with bulb removed (black wire) to ground OK and for voltage at the bulbs and no voltage when brake pedal is pressed. Would trace voltage from stop/brake switch back but can’t tell where wire begins after switch and where it goes to the back. I need help as we can’t drive the car without stop/brake lights and with only the 3rd center light. Thanks
I have checked the 20A #8 fuse and it’s OK. I have power to the stop/brake switch (orange wire) and the switch works when I press the brake pedal (power at the Lt blue and white wires). Also, jumped across the stop/brake switch connector (orange to Lt blue and white wires) to eliminate the switch and have no stop/brake lights. I have checked the ground continuity at the bulbs with bulb removed (black wire) to ground OK and for voltage at the bulbs and no voltage when brake pedal is pressed. Would trace voltage from stop/brake switch back but can’t tell where wire begins after switch and where it goes to the back. I need help as we can’t drive the car without stop/brake lights and with only the 3rd center light. Thanks
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
1998 with 45,000mi I’ve owned for 4 yrs. The stop/brake lights (all 4) don’t work at all but the 3rd center light works. I don’t know when this started but two people stopped me a couple of days ago to tell me. Bulbs are OK. The hazards front and rear work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the hazards. The tail lights work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the tail lights. The turns signals work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the turn signals.
I have checked the 20A #8 fuse and it’s OK. I have power to the stop/brake switch (orange wire) and the switch works when I press the brake pedal (power at the Lt blue and white wires). Also, jumped across the stop/brake switch connector (orange to Lt blue and white wires) to eliminate the switch and have no stop/brake lights. I have checked the ground continuity at the bulbs with bulb removed (black wire) to ground OK and for voltage at the bulbs and no voltage when brake pedal is pressed. Would trace voltage from stop/brake switch back but can’t tell where wire begins after switch and where it goes to the back. I need help as we can’t drive the car without stop/brake lights and with only the 3rd center light. Thanks
I have checked the 20A #8 fuse and it’s OK. I have power to the stop/brake switch (orange wire) and the switch works when I press the brake pedal (power at the Lt blue and white wires). Also, jumped across the stop/brake switch connector (orange to Lt blue and white wires) to eliminate the switch and have no stop/brake lights. I have checked the ground continuity at the bulbs with bulb removed (black wire) to ground OK and for voltage at the bulbs and no voltage when brake pedal is pressed. Would trace voltage from stop/brake switch back but can’t tell where wire begins after switch and where it goes to the back. I need help as we can’t drive the car without stop/brake lights and with only the 3rd center light. Thanks
I have replaced the hazard switch and the rear taillight switch as well...
We are currently looking for an extremely detailed wiring schematic to trace the wiring..the basic ones we have found online have not been helpful (according to him).
Anyone had this issue and found a resolution??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
Might give you some ideas
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-working.html
and this one has some schematics that might help
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ke-lights.html
Also, after re-reading your OP, since everthing is working except the brake lights, check the wires on the brake light activation switch (pedal) and make sure the connections are good there. A loose wire or bad ground would cause an issue like you're having. Everything else would work except the brake lights.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-working.html
and this one has some schematics that might help
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ke-lights.html
Also, after re-reading your OP, since everthing is working except the brake lights, check the wires on the brake light activation switch (pedal) and make sure the connections are good there. A loose wire or bad ground would cause an issue like you're having. Everything else would work except the brake lights.
Last edited by CactusCat; Apr 14, 2017 at 03:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Well, after much messing with this problem I had changed the hazard switch 3 years ago to fix an intermittent turn signal problem, so I checked the old switch between terminals J (connects to brown) and K (connects to white) and it showed continuity which it should. I checked on the car with the brake pedal depressed, terminal K to ground and it showed battery voltage which it should. I took the switch out and J to K showed open which it shouldn't be. I put the old switch in and the 4 brake/stop lights work correctly. I have ordered a new switch which will be here tomorrow. I don't know what brand the original switch is but I had replaced it with a Dorman 3 yrs ago and I now have ordered an AC Delco. Does anyone know if there have been bad switches manufactured in the past and should I expect to replace every 3 yrs? I've read where others have had to replace hazard switches frequently but I get no indication of why they fail in short time frame and we don't put many miles on the car maybe 4-5000 in 4 years. Thanks
1998 with 45,000mi I’ve owned for 4 yrs. The stop/brake lights (all 4) don’t /brake lights (all 4) don’t work at all but the 3rd center light works. I don’t know when this started but two people stopped me a couple of days ago to tell me. Bulbs are OK. The hazards front and rear work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the hazards. The tail lights work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the tail lights. The turns signals work but the stop/brake lights don’t with or without the turn signals.
I have checked the 20A #8 fuse and it’s OK. I have power to the stop/brake switch (orange wire) and the switch works when I press the brake pedal (power at the Lt blue and white wires). Also, jumped across the stop/brake switch connector (orange to Lt blue and white wires) to eliminate the switch and have no stop/brake lights. I have checked the ground continuity at the bulbs with bulb removed (black wire) to ground OK and for voltage at the bulbs and no voltage when brake pedal is pressed. Would trace voltage from stop/brake switch back but can’t tell where wire begins after switch and where it goes to the back. I need help as we can’t drive the car without stop/brake lights and with only the 3rd center light. Thanks
I have checked the 20A #8 fuse and it’s OK. I have power to the stop/brake switch (orange wire) and the switch works when I press the brake pedal (power at the Lt blue and white wires). Also, jumped across the stop/brake switch connector (orange to Lt blue and white wires) to eliminate the switch and have no stop/brake lights. I have checked the ground continuity at the bulbs with bulb removed (black wire) to ground OK and for voltage at the bulbs and no voltage when brake pedal is pressed. Would trace voltage from stop/brake switch back but can’t tell where wire begins after switch and where it goes to the back. I need help as we can’t drive the car without stop/brake lights and with only the 3rd center light. Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
Stinkin' hazard switches in our cars have caused many bad words to be uttered. 
Hard to say, but I think you just had some bad luck. I sure hope you don't have to replace it every 3 years! 
On the bright side, you are now a certified expert in hazard switch replacement on a C5 Corvette.
Hard to say, but I think you just had some bad luck. I sure hope you don't have to replace it every 3 years! On the bright side, you are now a certified expert in hazard switch replacement on a C5 Corvette.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 382
Likes: 96
From: Sunnyvale Texas
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Northridge CA
I decided to try the simplest possible fix first, cycling the switch about 100 times to clean the contacts. I popped off the cover and actually do have a question. I tried pressing on the "main" part of the switch, the white rectangle. I also noticed there is a tab on the cover that looks like it will press against the blue rectangle on the right side, so I pressed that about 100 times as well. Neither one helped. I tried posting a photo but it is the size of a billboard!
Which is the actual switch push button?
Guess I'll try cleaning the contacts next and will go to a new switch if those fail.
Which is the actual switch push button?
Guess I'll try cleaning the contacts next and will go to a new switch if those fail.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Northridge CA
As I re-read the threads, there seem to be slightly different failures. Some people report that brake lights don't work except for 3rd light but tail lights, turn signals, and hazards do work.
In my case, brake lights don't work except for 3rd light but tail lights and turn signals are OK. Hazards do NOT work. There are also references in the posts to both the hazard switch and the multi-function stalk. It sounds to me like my problem is the hazard switch.
Can someone confirm that this is the likely problem, not the MFS? I know it's an educated guess, but I want to get as comfortable as I can with the solution before I start dis-assembly.
Thanks very much.
In my case, brake lights don't work except for 3rd light but tail lights and turn signals are OK. Hazards do NOT work. There are also references in the posts to both the hazard switch and the multi-function stalk. It sounds to me like my problem is the hazard switch.
Can someone confirm that this is the likely problem, not the MFS? I know it's an educated guess, but I want to get as comfortable as I can with the solution before I start dis-assembly.
Thanks very much.