brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

[Tyler]

okay i've had a known brake light problem on my camaro since the day i got it. However, I have yet to fix the problem.

what's been done:
replaced all bulbs AND harnesses. including individual sockets.

checked all fuses and relays..

here's the problem.

i push the brakes, and only 1 brake light works.. its the one on the spoiler and its only the left part of it.

No other brake light works. I dont have a torx bit to get off that lense to replace the spoiler bulbs but will soon do that.


question is.. 1: am i missing something? all new harnesses and bulbs.. blinkers work, hazzards work, reverse lights work. running lights work.. brake lights dont work.

Do i have to have both spoiler bulbs working for there to be a "complete circuit" in order for the brake lights to work? im sick of spending time and money on this. please help!

thanks

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

Your right bulb in the spoiler is burnt out, as there are only two wires going to the spoiler. As for the tail lights, have you checked the switch on the brake pedal bar that activates the brake lights and the wires going off of it?

[Tyler]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

i haven't checked the pedal since the spoiler brake lights work when i mash down the brake..

i just changed the burned bulb in my spoiler.. still no "brake lights"

another thing i failed to mention is that my "BRAKE" light for my ebrake stays on. something to do with it? can i see this switch on the pedal without removing panels?

thanks

[Tyler]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

okay update...


Checked the pedal switch... There are two I'm switches. Im assuming one is the brake light switch and one is the cruise control.. its a 96 with a manual transmission. The bottom switch has two plug spots.. one of the two is a two wire/connector type. the other is a 3 or 4 wire plug. but the only plug with something plugged into it is the two wire one. the other one has nothing plugged in.

I screwed in it to tighten it up and snug.. still only the center spoiler lights work. brake lights are nothing.

Can someone help me out here? anyone pre 97 with a manual transmission have pictures of their back lights and how they are wired? same with the pedal switches?

Im just totally stumped. Are there fuse boxes hidden somewhere inline with the wireing? this is getting ridiculous.

If you have pictures... can you please post pictures of the back lights wireing harness.. the actual brake light socket, and the brake pedal switches?

im resorting to desperate measures now..

thanks

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

For the "brake" light, that's a problem with your ebrake switch. if you take the center console off, you'll see a little metal switch at the base of the ebrake, if you bend it, you'll be able to solve that one.

I'll go take a look at my car.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help



There's the brake like switches. The bulb sockets for the brake is pretty basic, just a normal socket with three wires. We know that is working because your blinkers work. both use the same wiring.

I'd imagine you may have a slightly different setup with the switches because you don't need to press the brake to shift with your manual, but it may be using the same wires, i'm not sure.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

There's the brake like switches. The bulb sockets for the brake is pretty basic, just a normal socket with three wires. We know that is working because your blinkers work. both use the same wiring.

I'd imagine you may have a slightly different setup with the switches because you don't need to press the brake to shift with your manual, but it may be using the same wires, i'm not sure.

Yeah, it's the same setup in a T5...my buddy has a factory T5, I looked at yesterday and it's exactly the same...

[Tyler]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

hey thanks for the picture and reply.

nice detailed pic BTW..

anyways yea mine is the same.. minus the larger plug since that is for the TC.. at least that's what i remember reading.

anyways so i just got fustrated and started yanking and slamming ****... all of a sudden the lights worked! crazy car.. sheesh.

car just needed to know who's boss. anyways thanks guys! problem solved...!

till next time

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

Glad you got it sorted out. Hopefully they will continue working, sounds like you just have a band connection somewhere, hopefully it will stay put from now on.

[cam98aro]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

whoa whoa whoa, go back and take a look at that switch, if you screw it in too far to be snug your brake lights might come on a bit late, and not work at when you are lightly braking, you can also turn it in too far and have it press against the brake pedal, which makes your brakes ride a TINY bit and can overheat the fluid

i learned that one from experience, i was in 1st gear doing a burnout trying to park my car in the auto parts store's parking lot

[Tyler]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

problem is happening again guys. this is pissing me off.. did the same stuff again. . changed all bulbs this time. every single freak'n bulb. changed out the switch.. and cam98aro even if the switch is screwed in too tight.. when the brake pedal is released, the pressure actually clicks the switch to the right point... believe it or not.

so anyways, does anyone have wireing schematics for the braking systems? its lead me to believe its the wiring thats messed up and not the bulbs, switches or fuses.

ugh im disgusted with this camaro right now

[Tyler]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

by the way.. the only brake lights that acually do work is the spoiler lights. both of them work fine when the brakes are pressed. nothing else.

when the running lights are turned on.. the dim part of the brake light works, but the bright, brake light part of the bulb doesnt work.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

are you able to color match the 3-way socket in the brake lights to the wires from my picture of the switch? The switch is working and your sockets are working, so there is a break in the line somewhere between the switch and socket on the tails. If the original problem solver was hitting things around down there, you may unplug the connectors to the switch and check for good connections with them all and clean them up with some rubbing alcohol.

[Tyler]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

no im not able to color match the wires. from the pedal switch, its orange and blue.. and on the tail lights it goes to black and brown.. or black and white.. forgot.. have to look.

anyways yea.. :(

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: brake light problems.. did all i could. please read/help

Unfortunately I don't know at what point the brake and blinker circuits join, but I imagine it would be quite close to the beginning as anything else would just be a waste of wire. Have you unplugged the connectors and checked for good connectors and cleaned them up a bit?