joekaz1070

When I apply my brakes lights do not come on , Could it be a fuse?

skirkland1980

iTrader: (2)

check the fuse. you should have power to both terminals at the brake switch with the brake applied. also check power and ground to the bulbs. could be blown bulbs

88GTA-HOLE

I am having the same problem with my brake lights not coming on. I have new bulbs, all the fuses are good, and I just replaced the brake switch... The brakes still work, directionals work, and the tail lights come on when my lights are on, but nothing when my brakes are applied

NINÅ

JWKbride

You can find the wiring bundle on the drivers side after you remove the left trunk area panel. It will be in black wire loom. Open the loom, find the light blue wire. Take a razor blade and scratch a small amount of insulation off.

Once the wire is exposed get someone to push on the brakes. You can check with a volt meter to see if you get 12VDC. If no, then the problem is likey up front somewhere (switch maybe?). If you have power in the LT Blue wire then I would start looking for bad grounds. Near the rear hatch latch behind the plastic panel are some grounds (at least on the Convertible there is) that are grounded by a small screw...check those.

88GTA-HOLE

Thanks, I will have to go buy a volt meter and check all that crap out. I was unsure about the wires and didn't want to screw anything else up. My car had a strange wire connected to a yellow wire on the hatch motor and was connected through the tail-light hold down bolt and was spliced into a purple wire for the tail-lights. It looked weird so I removed it and taped up the exposed wiring. It in no way looked factory so I removed it, and my brake lights haven't worked since

Blown84Bird

Well sounds like the problem is right there just put it back the way it was and should be fine LOL

3rdGenMess

Well hell! Did ir work? What happened??? I'm having break light issues...I don't know how to check all that stuff with a volt/ multimeter, hell I never learned how to use one ...yea I know sad case but anyway, I checked the fuse box all my light fuses are good, meaning signal light, tail light, didn't see no brake light fuse...replaced bulbs still no better, from my understanding on the break switch if the plunger is out the lights should be on and if its in they are off...I changed my pedal assembly for an auto to manual swap and didn't know how to connect the switch back to the pedals...my guess is they were on so long the switch burnt out...

Alwaysboosted

I had similar issues with my turn signals/hazards and brake lights (they're tied together somehow) on my '88 Bird.

Anyway as stated above check your wiring for voltage, fuses, ground, etc. If you're still having problems like I did, try disconnecting the third brake light. I found that my hazards started working again and so did my brake lights (lower) but sometimes they popped a fuse.

Found a wire that was exposed and touching the body (grounding out) so I taped that up and no more fuses popping. Later disconnected/took apart the third brake light and there was a short on the assembly that makes contact with the hatch motor. Took it apart and wired it straight to my third brake light and no more issues! You'd be surprised where you can get a short.

3rdGenMess

You know what...I didn't even check that ima look at that right now...I did get another rear hatch panel from the junk yard its probably not connecting all the way or its off centered...I take it, if the 3rd brake light isn't connected none of them will operate correct?

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

My 83 had that problem once. The turn signals and hazard lights worked perfectly, but no brake lights. The problem was in the turn signal switch.

jeff_blake

iTrader: (1)

check the bulbs to see if there in the correct spot, sounds dumb. i not thinking about it put the single element into the brake/tail light socket. which the tail lights worked, but being a single element bulb.. made only the tail lights works.

3rdGenMess

Well what the hell! How'd u fix that??? I jus looked at everything and it checked out...didn't check the turn signal switch...don't know what the hell I'm looking for doing that...is there a way to rig up something???

Alwaysboosted

To reiterate, yes the lights will still work with the third brake light disconnected.

Reason I mentioned disconnecting it is because there was a short with my third brake light assembly which caused all my brake lights to NOT work. Disconnected the assembly, tested the brake lights (the lower 2) and they began to work.

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

I bought a replacement turn signal switch from NAPA, removed the steering wheel and all of the other stuff in the way, replaced the switch, and reassembled the steering columm. The problem was where the switch cancels the brake lights for the turn signal to flash. Of course you could have a completely different problem with your car. I would use a 12 volt test light. Start be checking the power entering and leaving the brake light switch. If you have power at the brake light switch, then the fuse and all of the wiring from the fuse block and the brake light switch are OK. The third brake light gets its power directly from the brake light switch, before the power feeds into the turn signal switch, so if the third brake light is working and your turn signals are not working, I would suspect the turn signal switch, wiring to the rear of the car, or the sockets as a possible source of your problems. If the turn signals/hazard lights work and there is power coming from the brake light switch, I would suspect the turn signal switch as the problem, as the rest of your circuits are intact. There are dozens of small parts inside of the steering columm, so if you are unsure of your skill level, this area could be a challange to get back together correctly.

wiley1kinobe

Same problem. I have an 89 RS with the pull down motor on the hatch. All tail lights function and the third brake light works but the regular brake lights do not. New bulbs and switch. I replaced the pull down motor with one from an 87 Firebird. Could I have messed up a ground wire? But if so why does the motor and 3rd brake light still operate? Confused!

wiley1kinobe

Tried the turn signal switch test, not it. Can I run a jumper wire from the third brake light to the taillights?

Bbourk89

Hello, i have an 89 camaro rs and the brake light switch has broken off the brake pedal. Got pulled over today with officer saying all my brake lights were out. fuse is fine and the orange wire to the connector to the brake light switch is hot but the light blue wires do not illuminate my tester wen i push the brake pedal...... any thoughts anyone please help!!!