Topic: Brake light
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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Lifetime MemberOceanside, CA - USA
Joined: 11/19/2003
Posts: 191
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary model. Original L82 engine, 700r4 trans, edelbrock intake, thorly headers, rack&pinion steering, mono rear and front spring, MSD 6A box
In the past I have had a problem with the seat belt warning buzzer coming on for no reason. The engine is off, the key is out and the buzzer goes off. It goes off after a while (a hour or two) The problem has on happened a couple of times over the past year. The seat belt buzzer is on the same circuit as the brake light. Now the left brake light doesn't work but the left one does, Iv'e changed the bulb but no light. It seams like a short. My question is can I connect the right brake light to the left, until I can find the short?
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Lifetime MemberModerator
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 there was a short in the circuit, it would blow the fuse. I'd bet what the brake light problem is, is a bad ground connection at the socket. VERY common issue.
Does the turn signal work on that side? Hazzard light? If the turn sig, or hazzard does not work on that side, you have a ground problem with the socket(or voltage to it).
IF the t-sig/hazzard works on that side, then I would suspect the turn signal switch...the brake light circuit runs thru the t-sig switch before going to the rear lights.
You can run a jumper from one side to the other if you need to, but it will effect the t-sig, also, if the t-sig switch IS the problem...it will 'back-feed" the circuit.(ie: both lights will flash with either turn signal on...just like brake lights)
The seatbelt buzzer might just be a stuck buzzer contact, or a pinched wire under the seat or across the bulkhead behind the seats...
Does the turn signal work on that side? Hazzard light? If the turn sig, or hazzard does not work on that side, you have a ground problem with the socket(or voltage to it).
IF the t-sig/hazzard works on that side, then I would suspect the turn signal switch...the brake light circuit runs thru the t-sig switch before going to the rear lights.
You can run a jumper from one side to the other if you need to, but it will effect the t-sig, also, if the t-sig switch IS the problem...it will 'back-feed" the circuit.(ie: both lights will flash with either turn signal on...just like brake lights)
The seatbelt buzzer might just be a stuck buzzer contact, or a pinched wire under the seat or across the bulkhead behind the seats...
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(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"
Lifetime MemberOceanside, CA - USA
Joined: 11/19/2003
Posts: 191
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary model. Original L82 engine, 700r4 trans, edelbrock intake, thorly headers, rack&pinion steering, mono rear and front spring, MSD 6A box
Thanks Joel
That's a load of information I had no idea about. I'll check those items tonight. One thing I forgot to mention is before the brake light stopped working it was barely brighter than the tail light when I applied the brakes.
Lifetime MemberModerator
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
Yup....sounds like a ground issue in the socket.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(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"
Lifetime MemberOceanside, CA - USA
Joined: 11/19/2003
Posts: 191
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary model. Original L82 engine, 700r4 trans, edelbrock intake, thorly headers, rack&pinion steering, mono rear and front spring, MSD 6A box
Thanks Joel
With all the Christmas things going on I havn't had a chance to ckeck things out, maybe next week. Again thanks for the advise.
Lifetime MemberOceanside, CA - USA
Joined: 11/19/2003
Posts: 191
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary model. Original L82 engine, 700r4 trans, edelbrock intake, thorly headers, rack&pinion steering, mono rear and front spring, MSD 6A box
Oh yes, one more thing. I checked the turn signal and four way flasher's last night and, the turn signal and four ways didn't work on the left side but the tail lights do.
Lifetime MemberModerator
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
Socket ground...definitely... 
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(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"
Lifetime MemberOceanside, CA - USA
Joined: 11/19/2003
Posts: 191
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary model. Original L82 engine, 700r4 trans, edelbrock intake, thorly headers, rack&pinion steering, mono rear and front spring, MSD 6A box
Thanks Joel
I ain't going to mess with it, bought a new OEM socket from the local Chev Dearler, I'm going to try to get time to install it this week-end.
Same thing happens to mine, in fact it was a nice day today so I had it out. Parked it in the garage, and about an hour later the buzzer was going off. I posted this issue last year and got some usefull advice. The other issue is it only happens in cold weather. I see you are in CA, so not sure it could be the same.
I never got the issue fixed but if you move the wires around under the stearing colum it will stop. I guess you can call it a temporary fix.
But here is the really weird part, my drivers side brake light also did not work. When the flasher was on it did light up, so I knew the bulb was ok. So I did the same thing, gigled the wire and bingo the brake light worked.
I had it inspected a couple months ago and they replaced the socket and I have not had the brake light problem since, but I guess I really don't know if I have the problem still. Now I am going to go out and check. 
Lifetime MemberOceanside, CA - USA
Joined: 11/19/2003
Posts: 191
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary model. Original L82 engine, 700r4 trans, edelbrock intake, thorly headers, rack&pinion steering, mono rear and front spring, MSD 6A box
Thanks to Joel I got the light problem fixed. It turned out to be the socket connection. I cleaned it up and reinstalled the bulb and it works great, thanks again Joel. I'll try to check the wiring for the seat belt buzzer at the steering column and under the seat. The OEM socket I bought from GM didn't fit even though Chevy said it was the right one. I'll take it back and get money from them.
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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