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Topic: Brake Light, Help

in Forum: C3 Electrical

Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/1/07 8:35am Message 1 of 15
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Doylestown, PA - USA
Joined: 1/21/2007
Posts: 75
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette, 74,000 miles

I tried to search for this scenario, no luck maybe some has seen this.

My Driver side Brake light does not go on, I did replace the bulb. However when I put the turn signal on, the light does flash and work.

Any suggestions, do I need a new housing unit?




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Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/1/07 1:27pm Message 2 of 15
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
 Swap the passenger side bulb with the driverside bulb and see if the problem follows. If there is no change, use a test light to check for power at the contacts inside the socket. If there is no power at the contacts then back probe the wires going to the light socket.
 Also clean any corrosion in the socket and lightly sand the contacts on the new bulb. Let us know if it works. If it don't we will continue troubleshooting the problem with you.




GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




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Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/1/07 8:04pm Message 3 of 15
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
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
As Darryl says, check the bulb, and the contacts first. If that don't work, you don't really wanna hear what the real problem most likely is....the turn sig. switch...


Joel Adams
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Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/2/07 2:28pm Message 4 of 15
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Doylestown, PA - USA
Joined: 1/21/2007
Posts: 75
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette, 74,000 miles

Light works and turn signal works, but not when I press the brake down. ????????????????Shocked

Could it be the brake wire to the light housing, would I have to track it back to the ??? (break petal)  or at least to the split in wires??? I just don't know.
 



Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/2/07 4:18pm Message 5 of 15
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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA
Joined: 12/21/2006
Posts: 828
Vette(s): 1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c
wonder if it could be the brake light switch as the bulb uses the same filament for the blinker and the stop light so you can assume the wire has no break in it and contacts are ok. i would think the brake switch or maybe as joel said the blinker switch. just another thought wonder if anyway the blinker relay is bad.


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Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/2/07 8:03pm Message 6 of 15
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
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
If the turn sig works, the wire is good from the turn sig switch, but the switch can keep the brake light from working.Adams' Apple2007-05-02 20:05:02


Joel Adams
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Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/3/07 4:48am Message 7 of 15
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Doylestown, PA - USA
Joined: 1/21/2007
Posts: 75
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette, 74,000 miles
Thanks, That makes sense, is there one switch for both sides? One side is working. Where would it be located? I checked Corvette America and do see the swich, what does the Cruise control have to do with it?
 
I appreciate the help! THANKS AGAIN Tongue



Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/3/07 4:57am Message 8 of 15
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
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
The brake power goes thru the turn sig switch before it goes to the lights. This keeps the front turn sigs from coming on when you press the brakes. Think of how the Hazard flashers work...all four(frt/rear) turn sig lites burn. But...when you use the brakes, you don't want the frt. sigs coming on, so the circuits are split in the t-sig switch.
It(brake lites) can definitely work on one side, and not the other if the t-sig switch is faulty on one circuit.
The t-sig switch is different if you have factory cruize, because of the cruize circuit built into it. So, if your car has cruize, you would need to replace the t-sig switch with the same type.


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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             NCRS

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

Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/3/07 5:18am Message 9 of 15
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Eastern Oklahoma County, OK - USA
Joined: 1/3/2006
Posts: 1560
Vette(s): 1980 Black L48 T-Tops
Joel,

Does this mean taking the switch and all respective wiring out of the column and replacing? 

MichaelRay, new on here, has the same problem on his '75.  We have been chasing it for months now and can't find it.

Can you provide a brief overview of the R&R procedure?

Thanks,



Brake Light, Help

Posted: 5/3/07 6:28pm Message 10 of 15
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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA
Joined: 12/21/2006
Posts: 828
Vette(s): 1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c
dennis, the switch comes with the wires attached so you would have to fish them down the column to where they plug in. there are two different switches for a 75. regular cloumn switch and one for tilt/telescoping column.
ecklers has them, part a8641 and a8642. you can go to their site.



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in Forum: C3 Electrical


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