Brake lights acting up

[SLOSHO89]

Well, my brake lights have been acting up.

When I first noticed it they wouldn't come on untill I was almost stopped. I also noticed that if I pushed the clutch in part of the way, they would work when I steped on the brakes. Then the next day the clutch trick wouldn't work. So I put in a new brake light switch. That made the lights work for about a day. Then it was back to the lights not comming on untill I was almost stopped.

I know the switch is installed correctly. The only think that I can think of is a loose ground or maybe another switch of some sort somewhere else. The brakes work good and there aren't any dash lights comming on.

Does anyone have any experience or sugestions?
Thanks,
Efren

 

[projectSHO89]

How does your high mounted brake light respond during this time?

It is turned on by the same switch on the brake pedal, but it does not get its power routed through the Hazard/Multi-function switch as does the power for the lower corner brake lights.

Check and see if they operate in tandem or if the hi-mount works when the taillights don't.

Steve

 

[SLOSHO89]

Well, I have been looking at the reflection of the 3rd brake light in the rear view when all this is happening. I think that all three of the lights are coming on at the same time.

My friend was looking at it one day, so I know that the two bottom ones don't work either. I'm just not sure about the timming.

Where is the Hazard/Multi-function switch? Is that the turn signal switch on the column?

I'll have my friend step on the brakes tonight and I'll get back to you with the results.

Thanks alot,
Efren

 

[projectSHO89]

Where is the Hazard/Multi-function switch? Is that the turn signal switch on the column?

Yep, it's all one large assembly.

Steve

 

[SLOSHO89]

projectSHO89
Check and see if they operate in tandem or if the hi-mount works when the taillights don't.

Well, its all or nothing. All three lights come on at the same time. Both turn signals work. The tail lights also light up when I turn on my head lights.

It seems like the switch isn't doing its job....

Efren

 

[shojuan]

Maybe recrimp the spade connector on the wire that goes to the brake switch. I had to do this on 89 a year ago.

Rick

 

[projectSHO89]

It definately has to do with the circuit around the BOO switch. Rick's suggestion is one place to start. You may need to break out a meter or a test lamp and start probing the wires and wiggling harnesses to find the intermittent open.

Good luck, intermittents are the most frustrating problems to diagose.

Steve

 

[SLOSHO89]

shojuan:
Maybe recrimp the spade connector on the wire that goes to the brake switch. I had to do this on 89 a year ago.
Rick

Hmm, good idea...

I looked at the switch last night and wiggled the plug and it worked for while. Then I wiggled it again, and I could see some thing sparking/arcing. So I run to disconnect the battery, mean while the brake lights were stuck on.

I had just read a story about some guy, who's car had caught fire(the thought of lighting my car on fire ran through my mind ).

I finaly get down there and check it out with a flash light. Some dumb fool before me had used one of those crimps, so you can add a wire without splicing anything. Well, he did it twice and had removed one, allowing the wire to bend and break. So I crimped the wire back together. Good as new!!! Yeee-Haaaa thumbs_u

Thanks for all your help!!
Efren