What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

help midnight at work, no brake lights :(

S

slic913

Registered Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Posts
10
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa Bay
Ok.. so I just got a 79 gmc jimmy... 350 crate turned 383. Runs pretty damn good. First and foremost, I need brake lights. I'm at work and being made fun of like crazy, but I like my rust bucket.


Back to the brake light issue. Fyi, running lights work, blinkers and reverse lights don't.. traced the wiring from the tails to the firewall and they seem ok. Not cut or rubbing or dry rotting. I tried the switch at the pedal. There are two switches, one seems to be a vac line, the other electrical. There are two connectors, one on the end and one on the side facing down. One the down connector, I've read about this white wire, it goes up and over the gauges where I can't see. But when I step on the pedal, the red wire feeds hot to the white... On the rear connector, I get hot on the red only with ignition, and then one the brown when the pedal is not pressed, if u press it, it cuts power to brown.. Not getting power at the connectors at the tails tho. Any advise would be awesome.
 
I don't know if this is the prob but check your blinkers.

the ones in the fuse block.

I one time had a no brake light issue and changed out those blinkers and everything started working

Also check for corrosion in the light socket in the taillights
 
If memory serves there is another connector in the wiring harness @ the back of the frame. I think it is between the frame and the body just in front of the rear bumper on the driver side. Check and see if you get power there
 
Ahhhhh, maybe... The wiring seems ok in the back, I've traced the harness back to the firewall and into the back of the fuse panel. I see one grey relay up there by itself... Looks like a reg switch... #414.. then two round 552 relays in opposite corners of the fuse panel. Are they blinkers? I was able to get the hazards switch to work, and the front flashers work. But again, no rears...
 
Chris, you're dead on, and no... No power there besides running lights. The tag light works! Lol
 
my brake wire was broken right at the switch once...looked like a bad switch...


I couldn't pass inspection & it was my only vehicle at the time...I was getting pissed!


it was broken just past the connector crimp....
 
slic913 said:
There are two connectors, one on the end and one on the side facing down. One the down connector, I've read about this white wire, it goes up and over the gauges where I can't see. But when I step on the pedal, the red wire feeds hot to the white...this is the brake light switch On the rear connector, I get hot on the red only with ignition, and then one the brown when the pedal is not pressed, if u press it, it cuts power to brown..this is the 4 way flasher power .
Click to expand...
So if you getting power @ the switch its self, the problem shouldn't be with the fuse block. I think that the white wire feeds power to the turn signals. Try turning on one of the turn signals and hitting the brakes does any light come on? Check both front and back. I'm going to see if I can find a wiring diagram of the turn signal circuit.

EDIT: found a wire diagram.... the white wire goes into the turn signal switch. If the problem isn't in the plug on the top of the steering column it may be in the switch itself. Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Chris, thank you so much man, I'm on the site from my droid looking online.. So I yanked off the steering wheel and am playing w the turn signal switch, I got the right blinked to work on the column switch, no left... And still no tails. I'm looking at the wires goin into the fire wall... Maybe ill just re run the wires thru the chassis?

Whom ever had this last really chopped it up. Luckily I got this cheap thru work. Found a sticker under the hood, it originally had a 6.6L in it... Wow.. and this 383 looks tiny in the engine bay.
 
Blinker* damn auto correct.. and by no tails, I meant no brake lights.. I have rear running lamps.
 
Yeah fat guy... I'm scared to get pulled over... its a 180$ ticket for improper equipment, and this is my only ride at the moment.
 
Did you try unplugging and reconnecting the plug on top of the steering column a few times. May have a connection problem in it.
 
yeah, i have plugged and unplugged both connectors to the brake switch several times, even used some of that spray connector grease stuff.. i have just re-run new wires to the back bumper to the firewall side of the fuse block and hooking them up now. my phone died so now i've found a way to get on from a left open work computer. this is going to drive me nuts till i find it.
 
slic913 said:
yeah, i have plugged and unplugged both connectors to the brake switch several times, even used some of that spray connector grease stuff.. i have just re-run new wires to the back bumper to the firewall side of the fuse block and hooking them up now. my phone died so now i've found a way to get on from a left open work computer. this is going to drive me nuts till i find it.
Click to expand...
I didn't mean the ones on the switch. I meant the the plug higher up the column. It should be like 2" wide and slightly curved with several wires going through it.(5-6?)
 
...check the bulbs & sockets for corrosion...?:dunno:
 
Keep in mind, especially if you have tilt steering, you have a foot plus of wiring that is snaked through the column to the turn signal switch. A broken wire there is not going to be visible without pulling the entire switch and wiring assembly out. Since you have determined power is going into and out of the brake light switch, the next stop is the turn signal switch and I would almost bet on an issue with that wiring.
 
Ok, so about 5am I got it going. Seems that there were several problems for anyone else that may come across troubles. First, the "harmonica" looking connector w like 6 wires on the side of the side of the column was yucked up and not making good contact. Cleaned that up and pressed better together, poofed, blinkers worked. Second, I saw after taking off the steering wheel that there was a clear film of plastic blocking the contacts for the blinker. Ripped it out and blinkers were reliable. I wasn't not able to get the lock ring off but I could see the Blinker switch mechanism and its trashed. I found the part that moves with the lever to not make contact. And basically its a circut interrupt to the brake light that swaps signal to the Blinker relay and causes that filament that would light for brake, to blink.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom