Brake lights not working - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chrismoore701 · 06-04-2018, 10:59 PM

Seems like the issue is in the column. They work and when i flip the tilt they go out. In the process of pulling column apart. I unplugged the main column plug and brakes and hazard lights quit working proving they go through the column. Thoughts

CSHADES · 06-05-2018, 09:03 AM

turn switch wires are broken inside column

chrismoore701 · 06-05-2018, 10:17 AM

But the strange thing is the turn signals and flashers still work. However I did notice that at one point my passenger flasher stopped working and then worked again. I am pulling the whole column apart to get in there and see the deal.

CSHADES · 06-05-2018, 01:31 PM

The brake light input wire could be broken and the others still working at this time. I just dealt with this a few weeks ago with my 40 chevy truck, the right front turn signal/dash indicator wouldn't work with the tilt wheel down but would work with it in the up position. I replaced the turn switch and all has been good since.

chrismoore701 · 06-05-2018, 04:37 PM

Did you see a broken wire?

**hatzie** · 06-05-2018, 09:13 PM

It's common on the Saginaw columns... especially the tilt units.

The brake pedal light switch wire goes through the column to the turnsignal switch and obviously the turns come back out.

chrismoore701 · 06-05-2018, 10:25 PM

Column dropped. Turn signal switch pull as far out as i can get. Nothing pinched. Nothing cut. Nothing hung up. I am lost

Greenlee · 06-05-2018, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

Column dropped. Turn signal switch pull as far out as i can get. Nothing pinched. Nothing cut. Nothing hung up. I am lost

You’ve come this far. Might as well replace it and see if it fixes it. Maybe a wire is broken inside the insulation that you can’t see.

chrismoore701 · 06-06-2018, 07:26 AM

That's what I was afraid of. I'm on it. It has a new switch, less than 5,000 miles. Everything on it looks good. Just can't see any problems. I held the brakes with the turn signal switch in my hand and tugged, pulled, pushed, and twisted all the wires. Still works. Set back in place and flipped the tilt several times, no problems.

CSHADES · 06-06-2018, 09:09 AM

You will not see the break in the wire in most cases, it is broken inside the insulation

70GMCer · 06-06-2018, 12:25 PM

Have you tried using a volt meter to check for voltage within the circuit at different points?

chrismoore701 · 06-06-2018, 04:09 PM

I checked at the brake switch, and it was good.

Bought a new AC Delco switch from Oreily. Like $52. GM wanted $75 for GM part, which should be AC Delco.

**hatzie** · 06-06-2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

I checked at the brake switch, and it was good.

Bought a new AC Delco switch from Oreily. Like $52. GM wanted $75 for GM part, which should be AC Delco.

The GM part may actually be made by Delphi. It depends...

chrismoore701 · 06-09-2018, 05:38 AM

Alright folks. New ac delco turn signal switch installed. Lights seem to be working on a quick test drive. Flipped the tilt a few times and all seems good. New problem. Right turn signal will not cancel. Any thoughts?

**hatzie** · 06-09-2018, 10:21 PM

The cancel cam and spring block may be out of whack.

chrismoore701 · 06-10-2018, 06:11 AM

I pulled it apart last night and replace one of the springs. Not sure i needed to but everything works today

Thanks guys

06-04-2018, 10:59 PM	#1
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Brake lights not working Seems like the issue is in the column. They work and when i flip the tilt they go out. In the process of pulling column apart. I unplugged the main column plug and brakes and hazard lights quit working proving they go through the column. Thoughts __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-05-2018, 09:03 AM	#2
CSHADES Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: portage wi Posts: 502	Re: Brake lights not working turn switch wires are broken inside column

06-05-2018, 10:17 AM	#3
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working But the strange thing is the turn signals and flashers still work. However I did notice that at one point my passenger flasher stopped working and then worked again. I am pulling the whole column apart to get in there and see the deal. __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-05-2018, 01:31 PM	#4
CSHADES Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: portage wi Posts: 502	Re: Brake lights not working The brake light input wire could be broken and the others still working at this time. I just dealt with this a few weeks ago with my 40 chevy truck, the right front turn signal/dash indicator wouldn't work with the tilt wheel down but would work with it in the up position. I replaced the turn switch and all has been good since.

06-05-2018, 04:37 PM	#5
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working Did you see a broken wire? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-05-2018, 09:13 PM	#6
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,912	Re: Brake lights not working It's common on the Saginaw columns... especially the tilt units. The brake pedal light switch wire goes through the column to the turnsignal switch and obviously the turns come back out. __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 06-05-2018 at 09:28 PM.

06-05-2018, 10:25 PM	#7
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working Column dropped. Turn signal switch pull as far out as i can get. Nothing pinched. Nothing cut. Nothing hung up. I am lost __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-06-2018, 07:26 AM	#9
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working That's what I was afraid of. I'm on it. It has a new switch, less than 5,000 miles. Everything on it looks good. Just can't see any problems. I held the brakes with the turn signal switch in my hand and tugged, pulled, pushed, and twisted all the wires. Still works. Set back in place and flipped the tilt several times, no problems. __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-06-2018, 09:09 AM	#10
CSHADES Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: portage wi Posts: 502	Re: Brake lights not working You will not see the break in the wire in most cases, it is broken inside the insulation

06-06-2018, 12:25 PM	#11
70GMCer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 4,408	Re: Brake lights not working Have you tried using a volt meter to check for voltage within the circuit at different points? __________________ 1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang

06-06-2018, 04:09 PM	#12
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working I checked at the brake switch, and it was good. Bought a new AC Delco switch from Oreily. Like $52. GM wanted $75 for GM part, which should be AC Delco. __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-09-2018, 05:38 AM	#14
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working Alright folks. New ac delco turn signal switch installed. Lights seem to be working on a quick test drive. Flipped the tilt a few times and all seems good. New problem. Right turn signal will not cancel. Any thoughts? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

06-09-2018, 10:21 PM	#15
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,912	Re: Brake lights not working The cancel cam and spring block may be out of whack. __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.

06-10-2018, 06:11 AM	#16
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,318	Re: Brake lights not working I pulled it apart last night and replace one of the springs. Not sure i needed to but everything works today Thanks guys __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

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