Brake / hazard light electrical issue
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
Brake / hazard light electrical issue
Had my 2001 C5 Corvette detailed, including under the hood, last week and now don’t have the 4 main brake lights (upper center ok). The same 4 lights don’t light up when engaging the hazard / emergency button (the 2 front markers are working). I ran a continuity check on passenger fuse box 5, 8, 15 and engine fuse box 6, 52, 53 - all ok. The turn signals work. Electrical is NOT my strong suite. A ground or connect(s) perhaps? Any electrical people out there with suggestions? The more detail the better.
Thanks
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 480
From: Brea CA
From your description of the issue, it is likely a faulty Hazard switch. Push the hazard button several times in a row. Some times the contacts within the switch get grimy and repeated pushing of the button temporarily cleans them. If it works after this then you would need to replace the switch. However, it would not be out of the realm of possibilities for all 4 taillight bulbs to be bad.
Gary
Gary
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,946
Likes: 24,702
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Moved to C5 Tech.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
From your description of the issue, it is likely a faulty Hazard switch. Push the hazard button several times in a row. Some times the contacts within the switch get grimy and repeated pushing of the button temporarily cleans them. If it works after this then you would need to replace the switch. However, it would not be out of the realm of possibilities for all 4 taillight bulbs to be bad.
Gary
Gary
Thanks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
I've tried the hazard button 10 times slow and 10 times fast, plus I replaced 1 bulb even though the oem tested ok. Still no main brake lights. I had changed the MFS a couple of years ago for turn signal and popup headlight issues. A few months ago the turn signal wouldn't go on, but discovered an on and off of the hazard switch would start them up again. Maybe it's been the hazard switch all along????
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 480
From: Brea CA
From your original post,
1. The brake lights do not work except for the center LED bar.
2. Turn signals do work on the rear.
3. Hazard does not work on rear.
Do you have LED's installed in the front turn signals/DRLs? If so do you have a hyperflash harness installed? If yes to both of these then the Hazard switch is the issue. Just got through fixing a similar problem on a 99 with no brake lights except for the center one. Failure is in the hazard switch.
Gary
1. The brake lights do not work except for the center LED bar.
2. Turn signals do work on the rear.
3. Hazard does not work on rear.
Do you have LED's installed in the front turn signals/DRLs? If so do you have a hyperflash harness installed? If yes to both of these then the Hazard switch is the issue. Just got through fixing a similar problem on a 99 with no brake lights except for the center one. Failure is in the hazard switch.
Gary
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
From your original post,
1. The brake lights do not work except for the center LED bar.
2. Turn signals do work on the rear.
3. Hazard does not work on rear.
Do you have LED's installed in the front turn signals/DRLs? If so do you have a hyperflash harness installed? If yes to both of these then the Hazard switch is the issue. Just got through fixing a similar problem on a 99 with no brake lights except for the center one. Failure is in the hazard switch.
Gary
1. The brake lights do not work except for the center LED bar.
2. Turn signals do work on the rear.
3. Hazard does not work on rear.
Do you have LED's installed in the front turn signals/DRLs? If so do you have a hyperflash harness installed? If yes to both of these then the Hazard switch is the issue. Just got through fixing a similar problem on a 99 with no brake lights except for the center one. Failure is in the hazard switch.
Gary
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
I'll be ordering a hazard switch today. Do you know if it's easier to replace by removing the driver knee pad or by removing the center console and radio?
Gary, thanks for all of your input.
Randy
Gary, thanks for all of your input.
Randy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 480
From: Brea CA
You will have to remove the center console, radio surround and knee bolster. It will also be necessary to remove the radio.
The hazard switch is mounted in such a way that one of the lock tabs is in a position you cannot see it got to do it by feel.
Let me know if you need help with changing it out. I am over by Disneyland.
Gary
The hazard switch is mounted in such a way that one of the lock tabs is in a position you cannot see it got to do it by feel.
Let me know if you need help with changing it out. I am over by Disneyland.
Gary
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
Very kind offer. I moved to the Tucson area last year and never thought about updating my profile til now. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Last edited by Ran-D; Jun 15, 2020 at 04:03 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 2
From: Flower Mound Texas
Ran-D that seems to be the only option. RockAuto has this one and no stock in the other one they have listed.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ng+switch,4468
This makes the third one I have replaced. The Dorman 924-609. I've seen postings, since this last failure, that suggest pushing the emergency flasher multiple times a week to avoid this I date the things when I install them and today's is dated 11/8/2019. The one before that was dated 4/2014. I paid about $23 at O'Rielley.
It now takes about 10 minutes to get to the switch. One SHOULD NOT GET GOOD AT CONSOLE/DASH DISASSEMBLY!!
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ng+switch,4468
This makes the third one I have replaced. The Dorman 924-609. I've seen postings, since this last failure, that suggest pushing the emergency flasher multiple times a week to avoid this I date the things when I install them and today's is dated 11/8/2019. The one before that was dated 4/2014. I paid about $23 at O'Rielley.
It now takes about 10 minutes to get to the switch. One SHOULD NOT GET GOOD AT CONSOLE/DASH DISASSEMBLY!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The brake power goes into the hazard on a white wire and comes out of the hazard switch on a brown wire. The brown wire goes to the turn signal switch. Check voltages on those wires if you want to confirm it's the hazard switch you'll find voltage on the white and no voltage on the brown.
There is an inline splice connector for the hazard under the ignition switch that is easier to get to.
There is an inline splice connector for the hazard under the ignition switch that is easier to get to.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
The brake power goes into the hazard on a white wire and comes out of the hazard switch on a brown wire. The brown wire goes to the turn signal switch. Check voltages on those wires if you want to confirm it's the hazard switch you'll find voltage on the white and no voltage on the brown.
There is an inline splice connector for the hazard under the ignition switch that is easier to get to.
There is an inline splice connector for the hazard under the ignition switch that is easier to get to.
Yikes - I just plugged in a new Dorman hazard switch and still no brake lights. Dumb question - I have a voltage tester, exactly how do I test the switch? I hate guessing and don't want to start replacing everything unnecessarily.
1) Bad new hazard switch?
2) Brake light switch?
3) MFS?
4) Other ideas?
5) Pull my remaining few hairs out?
6) Give up and go to service shop?
Last edited by Ran-D; Jul 14, 2020 at 12:33 AM.