If I have my lights on then everything is lit up back there, and my backup lights work. All my fuses are good, and I replaced each bulb with brand new ones.

I checked my brake switch under the dash and it is fine and adjusted properly.

What could be wrong? The turn signals work, too. But if I hate the brakes... the second part of the light bulb won't turn on and they won't illuminate.

 

Well, you got the switch, bulbs and fuses, but you forgot one thing. The wires conencting everything! May be grounded out. I'd check the brake light wire for ground, and make sure before the switch that there is power.
Corry

 

I was hoping maybe for a hint concerning how the circuit works? Obviously there are wires from the switch to the lights, and power to the switch... but how else does the circuit run?

The reason I ask is that although I'm not sure this has anything to do with it... I put in a new alternator and power steering pump and a wire that had been electrical taped across the motor came loose. Damn previous owner... it wouldn't have killed him to fix it RIGHT.

 

btw, EVERYTHING else works. I have no other problems with radio, turn signals, interior lights, etc., etc., etc.

 

What year is your car and do your hazards work?

------------------
1989 IROC-Z 5.7L

 

1984 and yes.

 

Is this a Camaro or a Firebird? Remember the turn signals use the same bulbs as the brake lights in the Bird, but in the Camaro the TSs are yellow. Has anything in this car been changed, like wiring or the steering column?

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

firebird. when I changed the bulbs I noticed that half of the bulb is lit with parking lamps. That works. So I think the wiring is just fine... you know it has the second filiment when the brakes are pressed that lights up... that never comes on when you hit the brakes!

Unfortuantely the previous owner did some funky wiring when he converted over to a mechanical carb. All sorts of patchy wiring. I think the engine bay is the only thing that was touched.

 

My hazards dont even hold. The tab comes out and goes back in w/o sticking and the lights never come on. Whats up with that?

------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
RPO codes point to Recaro version
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series

 

Bleak,

84 is on to something. This has happened before, and a faulty turn signal switch/emergency flasher switch could be the problem. The brake light circuit is routed through the turn signals/hazard flashers. If the little black **** on the hazard flasher switch is not fully seated, the brake lights might not work. It's easy to bump this with your knee when mmoving around the car, so check that.

Also, make sure the turn signal switch is cancelling correctly. If the normally closed contacts on the switch are not closing to complete the brake light circuit - no lights.

------------------
Later,
Vader
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"I'm gonna talk about some freaky sheet now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
KaleCo Auto Parts

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited January 22, 2001).]

 

Thanks Vader! I'll check that out!

 

Right... that was the reason for my question.

The circuit operation is fairly simple (after all it is just a car) When the turn signals are off and the hazards are off, the light bulb filaments are "exposed" to the brake light switch; when you push the brake pedal they get their battery and light up. When you turn on a TS, the light that's suposed to flash is disconnectd from the brake light switch wire, and connected instead to battery that has come through the TS flasher. The hazard flasher portion of the TS switch disconnects the brake/TS light filaments from either the brake light switch or the TS flasher, whichever they are hooked up to at at the moment, and instead hooks them to the hazard flasher.

Your TS switch is FUBAR, or the wiring under your steering column has been sodomized. Those are the only things that can cause that to happen. If the TSs work, then the problem has to be the TS switch; if they don't work either, then it could be the wiring instead. Yours work so it pretty much has to be the switch itself.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited January 22, 2001).]

 

I just went and tested my hazards again... this time when I turend them on the front hazards worked fine, but on the back only the left rear hazard worked! I'm sorry I told you guys they all worked fine, i tested in a garage last time and I missed the passenger side rear one not working.

So what does this mean? A problem with that side? It stayed dark.

 

is it possible that my flashers are bad? I should have added that once I used them and they made a very loud clicking sound. They seem to work ok now.

 

bttt

 

Check that flat, wide plug on the bottom
of the steering column It goes to the turn
signal/hazard switch. I have seen wires break
at the edge of this plug and cause the brake lights to not work.