Brake Light Switch

first off, i'd like to say hi to all you folks...brand new member here although i am a member on other forums...
now for some help please !!...'98 GMC Z71, brake lights come on when the peddle is barely depressed...as the peddle is depressed futher, the brake lights will go off and remain off until the peddle is depressed pretty darn far....darn brake lights are off really when they are needed most...they go off before you really feel any brakeing and you are stopped before you ever have to push on the brake peddle hard enough to turn the brake lights back on...i figure it is the switch but i looked under the dash and have no idea where the sucker is !!...if anybody can give me some insight into how to get to this switch it would be a big help....i've already got the switch....after getting the brake light switch replaced, then we'll tackle the dome light problem that i have....lol....btw, i worked at a gm warranty repair station for delco radios up until 3 years ago for the past 20 years....so if i can help any of you folks out on your factory sound i'll be glad to help any that i can and free of charge !!...nothing better than to help a friend out...thanks for your time and i'm looking forward to being a member...

That frickin switch is on the brake pedal, believe it or not...

Lay on your back in the driver's side footwell, and with a flashlight, look up past the u-joint on the steering column. You will see a white plastic rectangle, with a wire harness clipped into it. That's the switch.

Now, the switch rarely ever screws up, that being said, it does get gummed up now and again. I am not sure what GM techs do to change them, but the last one I ran into, I merely used some aerosol contact cleaner on it, without even removing the wire harness, and it worked like a charm. Brake lights have not given me a hiccup since.

Disclaimer... I ended up having to rip the steering column off its mount bolts, and disconnect the column u-joint, to get enough room to work on the switch. Bit of a bummer.

Good luck

crap, looks like i know what i'll be doing this weekend...

thanks

since i had the switch already, i went ahead and replaced it...man what a load of crap when in the old days you could have done this in about 5 min.....lol
thanks again for the advice...

It looks like I am in the same boat. I replaced a bulb because my signal was flashing fast when I turned it out (indicative of blown bulb). I replace the bulb and my brake lights didn't work after that. When I pressed the brake pedal they may come on and go go off the furtherr down I pressed.

I check to see if a bad bulb might somehow be causiing this. I relized I put ina 12.8 volt instead of a 12 volt. I still have no brake lights at all. Looks like I will probably have to replace that switch as well. From what I can see, it is held in place with a C clip. Anybody have any shortcut to changing this without talking half the steering column apart?

1998 Sierra k1500

Thanks,

Spot

I did attempt this. I unscrewed the Ujoint but I cannot move it anymore. I removed the bolt that connects the steering column right behind the Ujoint but I cannot move it out of the way. I really don't want to pay a shop 2 hours labour to replace this stupid $10 part. There must be an easier way to get at this switch.

Anybody?? Pictures even???

GMC says they back their products, but i have a GMC built transmission that was had a gaurentee of 3 years or 60000 kms. their new warrenty is for 90000 kms.

i have just over 20000 kms on my trans and it kicked it. i maintain it as i should, and drive it in normal expected conditions.

i have contacted my local GMC dealer and they told me that they would not stand behind their work or their warrenty.

I recommend to all not to buy GMC products of any kind, they will leave you high and dry, with an empty wallet.

ps - No one told me GMC stood for Gimmie More Cash

I finally managed to get that friggin switch changed. Brake lights still do not work !!!!!!!! I did install a Bull Dog remote starter a few years ago but never tapped into any wires on the brake switch harness. I also just noticed that weh the keys are in the ignition and the door is open, it makes the chimming noise to let you know the door is open. Sometimes this doesn't work. I guess I have a short somewhere and need to take it in to get it looked at. Unless somebody knows what I should look for.


Thanks !!!

I finally managed to get that friggin switch changed. Brake lights still do not work !!!!!!!! I did install a Bull Dog remote starter a few years ago but never tapped into any wires on the brake switch harness. I also just noticed that weh the keys are in the ignition and the door is open, it makes the chimming noise to let you know the door is open. Sometimes this doesn't work. I guess I have a short somewhere and need to take it in to get it looked at. Unless somebody knows what I should look for.


Thanks !!!

There is a GM recall on the brake switch. Covered many models including my 1997. give the dealer a call with your VIN and they will tell you.

There is a GM recall on the brake switch. Covered many models including my 1997. give the dealer a call with your VIN and they will tell you.

Actually, looks like it was only for 1994s (which mine was...the 97 i mentioned above is my van)...gettin my years mixed up.



Recall - Brake Light Switch Wiring Polarity

File In Section: Product Campaigns

Bulletin No. 98065

Date: March, 1999

PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN

PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN

SUBJECT:
98065 - BRAKE SWITCH WIRING POLARITY

MODELS:
i994 CHEVROLET AND GMC C/K

This campaign bulletin, minus your assigned VIN listing, is being forwarded to you at this time in order to take care of those customers who bring their vehicle in for inoperative brake lamps prior to their notification of this campaign.

GM probably will not begin notifying owners of this campaign until late April, 1999. That is when parts are expected to be available in sufficient quantities to support this campaign. A VIN listing will be sent to dealers at that time.

In the meantime. should an owner bring in a 1994 C/K because the brake lamps exhibit the condition described in the "Defect Involved" section of this bulletin, check the VIN against VISS to determine whether the vehicle is included in the campaign bulletin.

- If it is included in VISS, repair the vehicle per this campaign bulletin and charge the repair to the campaign using the campaign labor operation number.

- If the vehicle is not included in the campaign bulletin population, treat as a customer-pay repair.


The Highway Safety Act. as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within, sixty (60) days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time.

If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time1 the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.

To avoid having to provide these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers1 the customers are being instructed to contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Thanks Eleveniron, I finally go them fixed. The wire harnes running from the switch to the main harness had 4 of the 6 wires broken.