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Topic: HELP!!! No Brake Lights!

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (1/7)
 5/15/10 5:14pm
manget1Lifetime Member
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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible

Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2418

At the last stop today during the Midwest Gathering, I was told I had no brake lights.  When we got back to the hotel, I checked the fuse.  It looked good, but I replaced anyway.  Still no luck.
 
Reverse Lights, Turns Signals, etc work.  By the time I got up from under the dash, most of the folks had gone into the hotel, so while I've got some good minds here, only a few know as of yet that there's a problem.  I figure I'll put this out to the rest of ya'll now and see if you can think of some things I can check. 
 
I've got a 4-5 hour drive home tomorrow, so I really hope this is something I can get working easily (as if fixing anything on a Corvette is!).
 
Thanks


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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (2/7)
 5/15/10 6:25pm
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

Vette(s):
72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe

Joined: 8/9/2002
Posts: 784

brake lite switch might be bad or the plunger might be stuck. anips2010-05-15 15:27:39
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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (3/7)
 5/15/10 9:07pm
manget1Lifetime Member
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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible

Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2418

I had checked the brake light switch and the plunger was working, but that seems to be the prevailing thought here as well.  $8.99 at Auto Zone (and they had 2 in stock).  It's dark now, so I guess we try to install in the am.  Hope that works.
 
Can't believe the dang part only lasted 36 years!  Good news is, the replacement switch has a LIFETIME warranty


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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!


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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (4/7)
 5/15/10 10:06pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20128

It's either the brake switch, or the turn signal switch. The brake lights operate thru the turn sig switch...this keeps the front turn sigs from coming on when you hit the brakes. I'd definitely be looking at the brake switch as the most likely culprit. Unplug the switch, and jumper the two wires on it...if the brake lights come on, then the switch is bad. IF they do not come on with it jumpered, then there is no power getting to the switch.
Try turning the hazzard flashers on, and pushing the brake pedal. The hazzards should stay on with the brake pedal mashed. If all else fails, you can use the hazzard lights as "emergency"brake lights.
Good Luck!


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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (5/7)
 5/16/10 10:04am
manget1Lifetime Member
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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible

Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2418

Replaced the switch and the lights now work again!
 
Good (not) news is, in the process, I bumped the speedo cable loose (it was in there precariously from when I replaced it three years ago).  Oh well, now I don't need the radar detector on the way home!!
 
Guess it's just the car's way of telling me that I need to hurry up on those dashboard repairs I've been considering


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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!


����� States Visited Map

target=_blank>Click for another pic!���� And yet another!
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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (6/7)
 5/16/10 10:50am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20128




Glad ya got the lights working, anyway....


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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HELP!!! No Brake Lights! (7/7)
 5/16/10 8:27pm
indy99
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Newport, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1980 L-48 still in the middle of a frame-off.

Joined: 6/9/2005
Posts: 932

See.... I told ya so.

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Corvettes and women are the same...You want to make love to them but they keep breaking down.
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