I'm trying to help my buddy with his 96 Camaro and one heck of a brake light problem that hopefully one of you have heard of before or may have some ideas on.Here's the problem:
The brake lights will not come on except for the brake light on the spoiler.You can turn the headlights on and the brake lights will come on but their stuck on.The only brake light that works like it's supposed to is the spoiler light.Anybody have any ideas.I'd really appreciate it if you could give me some advice on this.
Thanks in adavnce.
JE

 

No idea on the brake lights but nice to see you back. Sorry no help.

 

Are you sure it's the brake lights that come on with the headlights and not just the running lights?

The brake lights not working could be a wiring issue or just the brake light switch.

 

Not sure, but it could be one of two things:

1. If you just changed out all the bulbs, make sure their polarity is correct (turn them around in the socket) If the BRAKE lights come on with the headlights, then they should go off when you hit the brakes with the headlights on. (because they are in backwards

2. Other than that, I would say check the wiring and/or brake switch. Let us know what you find out, and what you did to fix it

Good luck!!!

Jeremy

 

This happened to me on my 94 Z28. It's the brake light switch. The switch is located by the pedal and when the pedal is pressed, a spring loaded plunger pops out.

You can take this out of it's mount and play with the plunger to see if the lights come one. There are 3 pins, I believe. 2 large pins for the "regular" brake lights and a smaller pin for the spoiler brake light. You can use a jumper wire connecting these and see if the brake lights come on. If they do, it's the switch.

Either the switch is worn out (~$11 at Autozone) or the wiring has a break in it. The switch pops apart easily if you want to see how it works and if it just needs cleaning. On autozone.com they list it as a stoplight switch, I think the number is 22584374.

Mike

 

Year old but I want to bring it up again, 94Z bad brake light switch, cleaned the contacts and they work again.

Guy's & Gals if your running with only the third brake light it takes 20 minutes to fix vs. an accident.

 

THNX ...I have heard it was possibly a switch that's located inside the steering wheel assembly and around the location of the turn signal arm,...so didn't want to screw around with "that", being that it's underneath the "AirBag" unit. Getting tired of people saying "hey your brake lights aren't working", even thou, at least i knew the third one was.

 

There are two sets of contacts in the switch for brake lights. One for the normal tail lights and one for the third brake light. They can go out separately.

 

I know this post is old, but I am having the exact problem. I replaced the brake switch, checked fuses and bulbs. I am checking the power from the turn signal lever today. Any other ideas?
The car is a 97 Trans Am/auto/no TCS/2.73 gears.

 

Hey guys, before finding this thread I had created my own. I made some step by step insturctions on how to find the switch, take it apart, clean it, and reinstall... check the info out if you need to...

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=552245

Thanks, Chris

 

I replaced both of the switches at brake peddle; but, doing so had zero effect. I'm beginning to think it's a bad "multifunction switch" located in the steering column. I'm not into digging around in the area of the AirBag; so, I will brace myself for the service department of the local chevrolet or pontiac dealership, to quote me a $350-$650 parts & labor, to do so including diagnostic charges. I've got a '98 Chevy Blazer which is requiring the same part replacement; but for another rare symptom/problem involving a bizzar turn signal switch that buzzez randomly as if the signal is flashing. Double "Ouch"!

 

When my brake lights went south,I took it to a mechanic,and he traced it down to a bad ground,on the drivers side,rear seat fender area.Third light was ok.Also, the sockets are not good quality,replaced those later.Hope this helps.(Bad ground)?(Brake switch one year later).

 

Mine was like this too, but there was a box (can't remember what it is called right now, it's too early) that the wires go into, like a fuse, in that area on mine that came unplugged somehow.

 

I remember what it was called, it was a relay I'm pretty sure. But that was on my first Camaro and I had this problem maybe 3 years ago so I still might not be right.

 

UPDATE: I changed the switch and found out that there must be a loose connection. When I open the lower "kick panel" as I call it haha I move the wires and the lights come on and off when the brake is held down. Maybe it is a loose ground as Fatdog2 replied?