Brake lights out

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

ahoppj

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2020
Posts
33
Reaction score
35
Location
Raleigh, NC
First Name
Aaron
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet k10 silverado
Engine Size
350
Just bought my truck three days ago and the brake lights aren’t working, but the twilights works when the lights are on. Replaced the bulbs and didn’t work. Next step looking to replace some fuses. But can’t find a reliable diagram to so what’s what? Where can I find a good diagram for a 1984 Chevy k10 Silverado? Also seems that the brake light switch is working fine but maybe not be?? Thanks for the help.
 

ahoppj

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2020
Posts
33
Reaction score
35
Location
Raleigh, NC
First Name
Aaron
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet k10 silverado
Engine Size
350
Hello....Its me......

Hello Please
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,047
Reaction score
6,640
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Howdy !

Are your turn signals working ? if they are , the brake light switch seems like a reasonable possibility.

If the turns are not working in the rear, then it seems like there is an issue with the wiring or sockets since you have new bulbs.

or, like on mine, the connector for the turn signal switch under the dash was not 100% plugged in - unplugging it and reconnecting it worked. :)

Total 100% internet spitballing here, mind you.

Sorry - no idea on the wiring diagram.

Have you searched here ? There is a lot of good stuff that comes up although it can be tricky to weed through.


Good Luck !

Britt
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,154
Reaction score
7,321
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
You must be registered for see images attach


Basic diagram, your's may be a little different.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,094
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Look under the dash at your brake pedal and you will see the brake light switch. It's a little plunger, sometime they stick and don't release as the pedal is pushed.
 

ahoppj

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2020
Posts
33
Reaction score
35
Location
Raleigh, NC
First Name
Aaron
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet k10 silverado
Engine Size
350
Thanks for responding Britt!

My left turn signal is working but not my right.

this is what my fuse box looks like in case there is any easy fix before I start taking stuff apart .

You must be registered for see images attach
 

ahoppj

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2020
Posts
33
Reaction score
35
Location
Raleigh, NC
First Name
Aaron
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet k10 silverado
Engine Size
350
Look under the dash at your brake pedal and you will see the brake light switch. It's a little plunger, sometime they stick and don't release as the pedal is pushed.


I looked under there and they don’t seems to be sticking as I moved the brake pedal
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,047
Reaction score
6,640
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Thanks for responding Britt!

My left turn signal is working but not my right.

this is what my fuse box looks like in case there is any easy fix before I start taking stuff apart .

You must be registered for see images attach


Do the hazards work ? If so, do both front bulbs light ?

That turn signal connector will look something like the below, BTW :

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,154
Reaction score
7,321
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
This fuse to start:

You must be registered for see images attach


Blue 15 amp fuse.
 

roundhouse

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Posts
669
Reaction score
528
Location
atlanta ga
First Name
justin
Truck Year
77,78,79,80 ?
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
You’ll need a good test light and a helper

If the hazards work
It’s not the wiring back to the light
Probabaly in the switch



A lot of times the signal switch under the steering wheel goes bad
It controls the brake lights and the signals to the rear

It took me 9 hours and several trips to the auto parts store to get mine working

The signal switch was bad, the switch on the pedal was bad
And the sockets were bad
And the wiring plug that passes thru the firewall was bad

Start at the pedal switch
Make sure it’s getting power in and when you step on the pedal, out.
Then follow it to the big firewall connector and check it on both sides of the firewall

Then follow it to the next plug, I think there’s one behind the engine ,

And then follow it down the frame and check it at every connection back to the lights

And if you’re getting power in the sockets but the lights don’t work, the springs in the sockets are bad
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,106
Reaction score
3,141
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
Do you have a trailer plug on your truck? Depending on how that was hacked/spliced in could be an issue too.
 

Matt69olds

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Posts
2,484
Reaction score
3,884
Location
Central Indiana
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
GMC 1/2 ton
Engine Size
455 Olds
Check for power at the orange wire at the brake switch. If it has power, check for power on the white wire when pressing the brake pedal. If there is power, check for power on the yellow and green wire at the turn signal connector with the brake pedal pressed. If there is power on both of those wires, then the problem is between the turn signal connector and the tail lights.

If there is a trailer connector, that’s the place to start looking for problems. Most people are too cheap/lazy/careless to use quality connectors and wiring process. Crimp style butt connectors and wire nuts have no place in a car/truck!!


It has been awhile, but last taillight harness I repaired I used a taillight harness from a later model chevy truck. This was on my brother 01 S-10, the original harness had been cut and spliced so many times it was too short to repair. I ended up cutting the original wiring near the fuel tank before I could find solid wire that wasn’t green and corroded.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,392
Posts
956,359
Members
36,687
Latest member
brentlent
Top