Huntr1117

After disconnecting the TCS switch when I pulled my console out I put it back in and the TCS and ABS INOP lights came on. Checked the fuses, disconnected the battery, replaced burnt out 3rd brake light bulbs, tried everything I could find on the forums and still nothing. Then the other day it started working again, then it stopped. The lights are off on the dash, the TCS and ABS are working as they should. However, the orange light on the switch is not working. I know that this wouldn't bother most people but it annoys the hell out of me when I can't figure out what is wrong with my car. I even got another TCS switch from another member thinking that the light might have went out. Still nothing. The car is a 96 and when I put a center console in from an 02 I used the newer TCS switch that came with it, just cut the wires and spliced them to the new switch. Has worked that way for the past 10 years. When I spliced them I just used butt connectors. Thinking this was the problem I removed the connectors, soldered them back together, and used heat shrink. Still no orange light on the switch. Any ideas?

Injuneer

The diagram in the 1996 factory manual (page 8A-117-1) shows that the TCS switch lamp gets 12V power from splice 224, which also feeds what appears to be all the lights in the dach and controls. So if everything else is working, it could only be what is shown as a gray wire from the splice to terminal A of the switch.

The ground is not shared with the other dash/control lights, so that would appear to be the place to look. The ground is the black wire on terminal B of the switch, and it shows it going through connector C210 to ground G110.

If you want to work through the diagram, I can PM you a link to a download of the 96 factory manual.

Huntr1117

That would be great. Pm me when you get a chance. The switched light that illuminates red "tcs" when the lights are turned on works normally. Its the orange light above it that is illuminated when the tcs is on and turns off when the tcs is off. That's the light thats not working.

Injuneer

I'm lost at this point.. I have no idea which light you are asking about.

Huntr1117

The light with the orange circle around it. That is lit up bright orange when the TCS is on. Everytime you start the car it is on by default. When you hit the switch it turns off, looks like it does in the picture.

Egleiss70

did you ever find out what the problem is with this light?
I've had this same problem and it's driving me fricken crazy

Injuneer

I went back and checked the manual. The Firebird ABS illumination lights are on page 8A-114-2. Same wiring as described in the post above, but page 8A-114-1 is for the Camaro. That is the internal light that illuminates the switch. Apparently "red" to match the rest of the Firebird dash. Actually, there are two illumination bulbs in the Firebird switch, only one in the Camaro switch.

There is another light inside the switch, which appears to be an LED. That is described as the "TCS Indicator Lamp". It can be found in the 1996 factory manual, Volume 2/Part 2 of 2, Page 8A-44-4 and -5. I've attached a copy of the diagrams. Apparently that is the "orange" lamp. I don't have TCS, so I can only go by the manual.

The LED is supplied by Fuse #2 in the instrument panel fuse block, thru a brown wire to the TCS switch. The light is activated by a white wire (at the switch) from the EBTCM (electronic brake/traction control module) which starts as a purple/white wire.

Note - The attachment has two pages, -4 only applies to an AUTO TRANS Firebird, -5 for MANUAL TRANS (wire colors are different), but you have not provided any specifics regarding your vehicle.