96 Lumina brake switch replacement help

I bought the replacement but I cant get the old one out. Is there a trick to getting the blue and gray connectors out? I tried for 20 minutes and had no luck. :mad:

Look for a lock clip on the connector.

I opened the lock clips up and they still wont budge and im afraid to rip the wires out.

I mean a second push in clip red maybe, that locks the release from opening, maybe it is there maybe not..

Ok well I finally got it in. Still doesnt work...I checked fuses, bulbs. My regular rear lights still work, turn signals work and the 3rd brake light in the center still works. I had a mechanic check out all of the connections and they still cant figure out what it is.

wait a second - what you describe is a typical problem
of a turn switch. On Luminas the brakes are powered through
this guy and only the third light is powered directly.
Try moving the switch left/right/forward/backwards while
depressing the brake pedal. If it will help, go ahead and buy
a new turn switch (~$60) plus rent two steering wheel pullers (one is
for the wheel, second one is for the plate under the wheel).

wait a second - what you describe is a typical problem
of a turn switch. On Luminas the brakes are powered through
this guy and only the third light is powered directly.
Try moving the switch left/right/forward/backwards while
depressing the brake pedal. If it will help, go ahead and buy
a new turn switch (~$60) plus rent two steering wheel pullers (one is
for the wheel, second one is for the plate under the wheel).

Where is the switch located and how do I move it in those directions and what should I be looking for?

it's a turn switch - the one you use to indicate the turns :)
and switch between near and far light.
It's mounted on the left side of the steering column and,
as I said, it's a kind of difficult to reach it and unmount.
That's why I recommend testing if this switch is responsible
for brake lights behavior.
I'm 95% sure in that because the problem with the symptoms
you describe has been discussed multiple times here and I
had this problem on my Lumina, too.

have a look, there's a similar thread even on the "front" page:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=327745

When purchasing a turn signal switch do I ask for one with or without cruise control? I do not have any controls for radio or cruise control on the steering wheel, however I believe that I do have cruise control on the turn signal lever itself. I don't want to buy the wrong thing and there is a dramatic difference in price too.