wierded out brake light

[perkysmiles]

I am having a problem with my brake light. Both the turn signals work. Bothe tail lights work. But for some reason the right brake light does not. I replaced the bulb. I checked the fuses. The only thing i can possibly think is there is a short somewhere. Any other ideas. PLEASE let me know.

[sierra77]

I just bought a '96 Monte LS a couple of days ago. I noticed when the dealer pulled the car out for me, that the left brake light was out. Figured it was just a bulb. no biggie. Drove it, and the left blinker flashed fast, signifying a burned out bulb. However, yesterday, I replaced the rear bulb, and still the same problem. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I think it is probably the turn signal switch. Also, last night was the first time I drove it at night. When i turn the headlights on, the dashlights do not come on. The stereo goes dark too. However, the dash/instrument panel lights will sometimes flash on. I have read reviews about the dimmer/headlight switch going bad. Just wondering if it is one or the other, or both.

[perkysmiles]

Originally Posted by sierra77

I just bought a '96 Monte LS a couple of days ago. I noticed when the dealer pulled the car out for me, that the left brake light was out. Figured it was just a bulb. no biggie. Drove it, and the left blinker flashed fast, signifying a burned out bulb. However, yesterday, I replaced the rear bulb, and still the same problem. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I think it is probably the turn signal switch. Also, last night was the first time I drove it at night. When i turn the headlights on, the dashlights do not come on. The stereo goes dark too. However, the dash/instrument panel lights will sometimes flash on. I have read reviews about the dimmer/headlight switch going bad. Just wondering if it is one or the other, or both.

for a while i didnt understand why i couldn't see my speedometer at night or any other lights on the dash and later quite by accident found out that there is a control switch to dim or brighten those things. Mine happened to be next to the headlight switch. a dial kind of like a wheel . hard to explain. wish i could draw it. if you have tried that then maybe it is a light bulb gone bad in the dash. it's my right brake light that is out but my left turn signal also goes crazy fast sometimes. while other times it is a normal speed. if you figure anything out let me know. am thinking it is a ground problem. cause the other night the light decided to work then decided to not work again. go figure.

[sierra77]

yeah, i know of the dimmer dial by the headlights....Every car has one. That was my first check. My lights are not 'out'. there has to be a short somewhere. Cause they will come one, then go dim, like something is making a bad connection. A couple of threads talk about the few little fuses in the 'under-hood driver side fuse block" getting corroded and that by passing the fuse block and installing new 'in-line' fuses help. I did that. The large red wire that comes off the Aux. + terminal....hooked to the underside of the fuse block goes to BOTH the 25amp fuse and the 15amp fuse......it is hard to see this underneat the block, the middle fuse, can't remember which one it is, just has an orange wire coming out of it, and what looks like a corroded connection. However, if you look closely, the large red power wire, goes up and hits a metal plate that runs between both fuses....powering them both. that is why there is only the return wire (orange) coming from the middle of the three fuses....(This is on a '96 keep in mind). I bypassed these fuses with new in lines fuses and it did nothing. I think the headlamp switch is bad.....and it is shorting out. See this review by MSN Autos http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Re...P&tab=6&sub=-1
Under the Reliability tab, Accessories Category. Sounds like it could be the culprit. as for the turn signals, I have also pretty much determined by reading these threads that the turn signal switch is bad. I am very mechanically inclined, but I don't want to tackle this one.....because of the fact taht you ahve to pull the airbag and the steering wheel. I have a very descriptive link on how to do this, http://www.likeabigdog.com/column/94upsignal.htm
but I do'nt have the wheel puller tools......I called the chevy dealership, AND my normal mechanic....and can you believe that the dealership was CHEAPER? $270 vs. $290!!!! Still a lot of damn money to fix a switch........I hope this helps. I jsut found out today that my lower intake manifold is leaking too. That one I WILL tackle myself. Good luck and keep posting if you find something that actually works!

[98MonteGuy]

Mine have been OUT for a while now. Only the light in the rear window works. Check fuses,bulbs,etc.

[sierra77]

my brake/turn signal problem is fixed. I had a local shop replace the turn signal switch in the steering column. NOt the lever, the actual switch. It involved them taking out the airbag and removing the steering wheel. I apparently had the same problem that 98MonteGuy had. My girlfriend was following me and she called me and said, only your third brake light is working....when I wiggled the turn signal lever and said, "how about now?", she said they came back on. Since the monte's dont' have separate brake and tail lights, like my truck does, the switch cuts out the power and over rides it to make the brake light blink creating the turn signal..........the switch goes bad and cuts out all the time apparently. I'm happy I got that one fixed.....The part was about $82 and labor only cost me $65. Good luck to you guys.

[perkysmiles]

Originally Posted by 98MonteGuy

Mine have been OUT for a while now. Only the light in the rear window works. Check fuses,bulbs,etc.

The switch everyone is talking about is the actual switch that makes your turn signal work. I read another forum where a borg warner swith is the best but i can't find one of thos so i am going to go with what i can find and i highly doubt i can do this myself as i am NOT mechanically inclined and you have to take the steering wheel and air bag off to get to it. But if you look directly at your turn signal from the side you should see it surrounding the outside of the turn signal. about 2/8 of an inch thick and maybe an 1 1/2 inces in diameter its what your turn signal is mounted on i believe. here is a link that should take you directly to a turn signal switch for a 98 monte carlo as i also have a 98 monte carlo. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=832&ptset=A this is just to give you an idea of what to look for although you can find it for less at autozone and probably other places if you check around. if you find anything else out that seems to be a better root to the problem i would like for it to be something a little simpler that i could do myself. goodluck.

[98MonteGuy]

Cool, Thanks for the heads up guys and the links!!

[valiant0ne]

Originally Posted by perkysmiles

I am having a problem with my brake light. Both the turn signals work. Bothe tail lights work. But for some reason the right brake light does not. I replaced the bulb. I checked the fuses. The only thing i can possibly think is there is a short somewhere. Any other ideas. PLEASE let me know.

Hello:

My good friend. I see you have the same problem I had. Yes,the brake lights will not illuminate but,the signal lights,headlights and all of the rest are ok..Well, my brake lights did the same and then it came in 3's.

My signal lights, cigrette lighter, and othe things. The problem is a ribbon cable which is in located under the dash or in the steering wheel that connectes and controls a large majority of the electrical devices in the car. It's like the main central unit for it all. After $638.00 later, Cheverolet dealer. The problem has been resolved. Now my next problem....the power windows ...Driver side will not go down but, passenger will go down from my side..any suggestions??

[coxad]

Originally Posted by valiant0ne

Hello:

My good friend. I see you have the same problem I had. Yes,the brake lights will not illuminate but,the signal lights,headlights and all of the rest are ok..Well, my brake lights did the same and then it came in 3's.

My signal lights, cigrette lighter, and othe things. The problem is a ribbon cable which is in located under the dash or in the steering wheel that connectes and controls a large majority of the electrical devices in the car. It's like the main central unit for it all. After $638.00 later, Cheverolet dealer. The problem has been resolved. Now my next problem....the power windows ...Driver side will not go down but, passenger will go down from my side..any suggestions??

I had the same problem with my 97 monte carlo. You should be able to get the door panel off fairly easily and then be able to get to the connector on the window motor itself. If you have a multimeter you can shoot for power right there. If you get power the motor is probably bad. You might also try cleaning the connector with alcohol and hooking it back up and trying it. You should be able to hear the motor trying to work if it is indeed getting power. When they changed mine, they changed the motor and the guide assemblies for the window because they were "defective". My driver side window is still original and you can tell a big difference on how roughly is goes back up especially the last few inches. Good Luck, mine ran about $350.

[richtazz]

Most blinker, brakelight, instrument panel light anomalies can be traced to a bad turn signal switch. A garage charging $650 some dollars for a 1-2 hour job is REDICULOUS. I don't like messing with air bags, but it doesn't require much more effort to remove an airbag equipped wheel than it does to remove a non-airbag one. That repair bill is highway robbery (the $350 one is borderline)!!!!!