LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Brake lights not working

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 11:38 AM
  #1  
~BuMps AloT~'s Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Hays
Default Brake lights not working

Hey guys well my brake lights are not working, but the third brake light does work. All bulbs look good. So I figured the brake switch may have gone bad. I pull the lower cover off and there is only one two wire connector plugged in, but there is a place for another 4 wire connector on the brake switch. I looked all over and couldn't find the other connector. I also went ahead and installed the new brake switch and still the 3rd brake light was the only one that comes on.

My question:

Is there even a second connector that is suppose to be inserted into the brake switch? Or is there just the one connector that is utilized
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 11:56 AM
  #2  
VinR1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Default

Not working period or dim? Do the turn signals and running lights work?
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 12:36 PM
  #3  
~BuMps AloT~'s Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Hays
Default

The brake lights do not work period. Only the 3rd brake light works. Turn signals and running lights all work, as well as the hazard lights
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 12:43 PM
  #4  
FAD2BLK93's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: POULSBO WA.
Default

Ok here is what u need to do. Pull the lights out, and pull the connectors and pull the black ground wires out of the connectors. Clean the corrosion off the ground wires and inside the light bulb connections. Ur ground wires inside the bulb housing are coroded. Help this helps...post back if it does.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 12:50 PM
  #5  
~BuMps AloT~'s Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Hays
Default

I have not tried this yet. Think a knife and scraping will do the trick? I guess I find it kinda weird that both left and right brake lights did it at the same time
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 02:38 PM
  #6  
FAD2BLK93's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: POULSBO WA.
Default

Them both going out at the same time to me either points to 1) no power or 2) no ground. For both of them. Since u do have a brake light signal being that the third works, u may want to check pos and neg. Good luck
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 06:48 PM
  #7  
1993yellowbird's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Default

When mine acted up I replaced all the ends. Only on was bad but I wanted good connections on everything. The way they are wired one bad socket/bulb can mess up all four. If I put bulbs in all 4 they were dim and had no turn signals. I took any one bulb out everything would operate right.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 07:03 PM
  #8  
warriorcustoms's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 942
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma
Default

My 95 T/A had water in the tails when I bought it & all the light sockets are ****!!! So when I went & got a set of LS honeycomb tails I got the harness out of the LS car to fix that bullshit LoL The ground wire eyelet is easy to break also!! PULL EM & LOOK!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 07:13 PM
  #9  
~BuMps AloT~'s Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Hays
Default

Ok well I pulled all of sockets and they all look pretty rusty and crusty. I sure hope this is the problem. Where do u guys recommend getting new light sockets from?
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 08:36 PM
  #10  
warriorcustoms's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 942
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma
Default

Prolly off Parts Classifieds Theres some LS cars gettin parted Thatll have the newer push in style Shouldnt set ya back too much & is pretty much plug n play Might cost more for new bulbs if they dont ship those too LoL That way theres not a ton of splices
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 10:40 PM
  #11  
VinR1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Default

Dont worry about replacing each socket - they're $12/ea at the parts stores. Find a good used harness off a 98+ car and upgrade to better bulbs. I found mine for $25 and put the larger 3-wire sockets on the outer ends of the tails. It required opening the holes slightly but now I have much brighter (safer) taillights



Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 10:45 PM
  #12  
VinR1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,933
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Default

Oh, the harness is a 5min swap - it plugs in behind the carpet, driver side trunk area and runs through a rubber grommet behind the driver side taillight
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2012 | 11:20 PM
  #13  
warriorcustoms's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 942
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma
Default

Its A Cake Walk wether you keep the stock tails or get the LS style
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:03 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE