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Formally called the Chevrolet C/K, C/K is a series of trucks manufactured by General Motors and marketed under the Chevrolet and GMC brands. The C/K line includes pickup trucks, medium-duty, and heavy trucks.

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Why dont my brake lights work

all my other lights work but my brake lights do not

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1992 GMC CK3500 7.4 454. brake light dont work, all other's

work except brake lites when I press the brakes, why?

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1997 C1500 SUBURBAN LS 5.7 350 2WD brake lights worked until Tuesday night and then nothing, everything else works but my brake lights and hazards, any suggestions?

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check the brake switch on the brake pedal

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My break lights only work when the truck is off. When the key is on they stop working. I changed the relay, I changed the wire harness from the ignition . Could it be a bad relay bay?

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I have a 98 suburban all my lights work but the brake lights I've checked the fuse and it's good changed the brake light switch so its good but still nothing with my brake lights its getting irritating not finding the problem

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Before clipping any wires, keep in mind that most older model year trucks have the same bulb filament used for both the brake function and the turn indicator function. For that to work, the brake wire runs to the turn indicator, so that when you turn on the flashing turn signal, it switches out the brake light signal for that side so that the two signals don't collide. So don't just check the brake light. Also check the turn signals. In my case, the brake lights didn't work but the turn signals did, so that told me the wiring to the bulbs was OK and the wiring running in the frame was OK and the bulb contacts were OK. So I assume I need to check the brake light switch, the fuse, and for a truck, any wiring done for the trailer hitch to make sure it is OK.

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I have checked the fuse,changed the signal and brake switch. All the lights are good. But no brake light comes. I was wondering if it needs another ground.

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Fixed it it was the wires under the sterring wheel

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I turn on the light and the brake is not on and I turn off the light off and the brake is on .I can not find out why

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I am having the same problem. I put in new brake light switch and still no brake lights. What wires did you find under your dash? 1994 Chevy C1500

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i had to replace my brake light switch cause when i stepped on the brakes the they would work till i put more pressure on the peddle then they would go out.now i have no brake lites.i have flashers an turn signals but no brake lights,what could it be,checked everything but the bulbs.

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I had the same problem on my 91 K1500. The most common reason rear lights of any kind will fail is rotted wires. They run through wire shroud from front to back along the inside of the frame to the left tail light. Running this way leaves them exposed to the elements.

Check along the run for rotted, broken or degraded wire. Most spots would be at anchor points, junctions, etc. If you do find a faulty wire, just run a new one from the engine bay to the back and splice it in. Its a cheap fix and takes WAY less time.

If it was me i would clip the wire at the tail light harness, about 4 inches back, then move to the engine bay and look for the same wire there. it will most likely be beside your brake fluid assembly, in a cluster, entering the firewall. Find the wire and clip it about 4 inches back too. Solder and shrink tube the new wire to these pigtails and give it a test.

If you are unsure of the wire color associated with brake light function, you can access wiring diagrams online, but be warned, chev/gm have been known to change color codes from time to time.

It could also be a relay, the box is located in the engine bay and the relay will be marked, but its unlikely to be the problem.

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Turn your flashers on to check the bulbs .Checks good go to your brake light switch mounted on upper part of the brake pedal with a simple test light you should have hot (test light on) when the brake pedal is depressed if not and the ong wire is hot (15 amp fuse in the fuse panel under dash) says STOP by it you need to replace the brake light switch. Also when you replace the battery get the highest cranking amp one that Will fit.

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Sorry it's the white wire that should be hot out of the brake switch when the brake is applied

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On my 01gm3500,bulbs are good, fuse js good. I replaced the brake ĺight switch. I'm going to back at it in the morning. I'm going to start by replacing the white wire front to back. Wish me luck.

Jayme Bisidas

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Right signal light does not but left lights work I have to the plug for light but I plug into tail lights it not working

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There is a switch. I think on most C/K 1500/2500 it is on the brake pedal arm or the arm hits it. It is $5-$10; you might take ALL your truck data to the auto parts store, buy a new switch, then look for the same thing around the brake arm or under the hood.

There's a fuse. Find the fusebox and look for "brake". The Owner's Manual may have clues.

Fuses usually blow for a reason. Some bulb-faults can blow a fuse. Change the brake lamp bulbs; on a vehicle this old it is time to do that. Open tailgate, there's two (rusted) Phillips screws into the taillight lens. Unscrew, the lens un-hooks on the other side. Flat rubbery thing with connector and 3 lumps. Unhook connector latch and carefully pull out. Use 1/4 nutdriver to remove 2 screws in rubbery thing. Three bulbs: they just pull out but won't want to come easy. IIRC bottom is backup and the top one is brake.

Look at the wires, because if it is not switch and not a bulb-fault, then as TBAS says it is probably wires, pinched or broken, from tail to switch to fusebox.

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Turn your flashers on to check the bulbs .Checks good go to your brake light switch mounted on upper part of the brake pedal with a simple test light you should have hot (test light on) when the brake pedal is depressed if not and the ong wire is hot (15 amp fuse in the fuse panel under dash) says STOP by it you need to replace the brake light switch. Also when you replace the battery get the highest cranking amp one that Will fit.

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I have a 2000 Chevy Suburban.. The driver side tail & brake light.. also the third light is not working.

I've changed the bulbs, brake switch & relay..also checked the fuses..Passenger side started working but not Driver side....Help.

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Have only tailights on 1992 chevy 1500

No turn or brake light

Replaced circut boards on both sides

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Had no brake lights so I replaced the brake switch now they won't go off

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Adjust your switch

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I had the same problem with my stepside cleaned the connections at the light and they went to working

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like others were saying its a brake switch at the top of the brake pedal. just did mine and it was a pain but it solved the problem instantly. just need to remove a clip and lift up on the plastic piece to remove it from the brake cable, then disconnect the wiring harness and pop in the new one, atacth the clip and you are good to go.

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I replaced my brake light switch but nothing happened and all the bulbs and fuses are good.

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Same problem here. 1993 C1500.

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I have tried everything. Replaced fuse and switch and circuit boards and not luck. All other lights work. Turn signal and runninglights and emergency flashers all work. Its wierd when I reach 35 mph my brake warning light comes on but my brakes work as they should. Also my cruise control doesn't work anymore and I believe it has to be connected to the brake light issue. Any solutions?

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What did ya do to get em workin? I had a very similar problem

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In older Chevy trucks the brake light wire goes threw turn signal for Cruz etc could be bad mine was all I had was head lights tail lights nothing worked it would not even flash the lights with the truck off

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I have a 1994 GMC Sierra C1500 2WD with 4.3l w/automatic. It was a fleet vehicle. Plain Jane accept for High Output Heater, Limited Slip Diff and Engine Block Heater. Brake lights were working intermittently. Would come on when pedal as first depressed then go out after pedal traveled down a bit. I put in a new switch and all was well for 3 months. Then the problem came back again. I was ready to put a new switch in again when I took a close look at the wire connector on the harness. The end yellow lead was melted in the connector and the female plug for this wire was black. I got a boneyard replacement and wired it in. Problem solved.

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Been reading about all your various symptoms. I have been fighting a taillight issue for 2 days. Only left turn worked -- No brake lights -- no running rear lights -- no flashers -- no backup lights. But driver side turn sig DID work. Changed all bulbs (were ONLY 25 yrs old) -- Ck'd bulb sockets (all ok) Ck'd fuses and pedal switch - both ok. Charted all progressive actions. Nothing made sense.

THEN thought back on what I might have caused when I took the bed off to replace a brake line in Sept. -- traced all movements I might have made that might've CAUSED the taillight issues. Looked the wire connections over and came to a ground at the frame near the trailer hitch lead. Took it loose - did a fair job cleaning the frame surface rust and reconnected it. Thought I had done a thourough job but still no change. Went back to that ground again -- took it loose -- stripped the wire casing back a couple inches and BINGO!!!!!!!! The wire was rotten ------------ Stripped the wire casing back real good

and got to good clean un-rotten wire -- took a FILE to the frame rail rust 'till I found bare metal re-attached the ground VERY WELL ------------no more taillight problems. So if things get just too wierd - ck your grounds!

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It is probably your fuse relay swithch underneath the hood toward the driver side. Pull the plastic cap off the fuse chassis and you'll see a square relay fuse switch and replace it for the brakes. It's only $13 bucks and is the predominant issue with 1997 Chevy Trucks and the brakes not working especially if you reverse and blinker lights do work.

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Would your fix be the same on a 95 silverado brake light on cab works fine?

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Its the taillight circuit board or a broken wire. If you look on here i asked same question and i posted up what the reason for my issue ended up being. Moat likely a bad or broken ground, circuit board that is on the back of the taillight or a broken wire. To figure it out get a test light clean a piece of metal connect teat light ground, then unplug taillight and stick trat light probe into 1 slot at a time see what works and what doesnt and write it down. Then go to the other taillight do samething.

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My break light on my cab works all my lights work i checked the main wire to break lights at the conecter no power to break lights i pulled the relay replaced it with a known good one nothing figured eather switch or short storming here so cant mess with now

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Either you have a broken wire, or blown fuse or you have a messed up blinker switch. The way those taillights work theres a white wire under dash on the column that white wire is for brake light. So the way the brake lights work they go through a relay and through blinker switch. So you could have a blown relay i would start there. 1 relay is on the back of the fuse panel, the other is next brake pedal on that panel to the left of the brake pedal. Try replacing those, and if that doesnt work look for broken wires under dash, and check all the fuses, replace blinker switch, and hazard switch. If all that doesnt fix it then you must have broken wires or bad grounds

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1997 GMC S-10

Our "Jimmy" has developed a brake light issue in the last few days. All light bulbs are "working" when the lights are turned ON. However, If we turn off the lights the rear brake lamps won't light up when brake pedal is applied.

Any ideas???

Thank you.

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You may need new circuit boards. If you pull the brake light out an it is burnt that is why. Check the fuse before.

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I have a problem with my break lights/blinkers. They work fine until I turn on my headlights. I've moved the ground around, replaced break switch, headlight switch, tail light circuit boards no luck. What else could it be? I did notice when my blinker is on (headlights turned off)when I hit my break my dash lights for my "heat and cool" flash with my blinker. Any suggestions would be great!

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Sounds a lot like a pinched harness

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White wire off the brake switch and also with the cluster of wires front front to back is the brake wire that turns on the brake lights i just figured it out on my 92 chevy k1500 because i have the same issue and i need a inspection sticker

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Do your turn signals work? At the taillights how many wires are on plug that goes into taillights? Do you have a trailer hitch installed? Seems like you have some broken wires along the frame wing should go up driverside frame rail. You may also have circuit boards on back of taillights and if so the circuit boards could be bad. Test wires at tail see if your getting power to taillights.

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It was white wire was disconnected and the brake switch was not adjusted right

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Check your grounds?

I have brake lights and turn signals when I pulled my "tail light/ courtesy marker light" fuse

But when I put the fuse back in I have no turn signals and my brake lights don't work.

So I guess it could be whatever ground for the running lights could be shorting something out?

Possibly the circuitboards to the brakelights?

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update: my trucks turn signals and brakelights were working when the headlights were off. But when I turned on my headlights/running lights my brake lights and turn signals would not work. My turn signals in the front would dim when I turned them on and the ones in the rear would turn onand not flash.

But then I noticed when I hit the brakes with the lights off my front sidemarkers would come on very dimly....

Long story "short"......

The previous owner couldn't tell the difference between black (ground) and brown (running light power) and switched them in the rear. So the frame was working as a power source....but only when the headlight/ running light circuit was on.

So if you see a fresh butt splice or recent wire remember "human error" can cause some crazy wiring issues

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what about No brake lights when truck is running but they work when it is off. Its been driving me nuts for over a month

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Jim, I believe that when your truck is "on" your running lights are on. Take off the lenses and see what your bulbs themselves are doing. Are alll the lihhts on? Do the lights dim sleightly when you press the brakes? Do the brake lights light up dimly?

Pretty much everythread I've ever searched with this problem the issue has been a ground in one way or another.

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Jim, common problem. If your third brake light works either way but the rear brake lights stop working when the truck is on its a faulty ground wire to the stop lamp relay. Other things use that ground when the key is on so its not strong enough then to activate the armature within the relay. Location of the relay depends on the year of the truck but mine was in the engine compartment on firewall by the master cylinder. You can trace the black wire from the relay but it goes into the harness so its much easier to cut the wire, place an eyelit terminal on it and attach it to the body with a self tapping screw.

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I have a 95 Chevy 1500 ext cab 4x4 my brake lights and hazzards don't work I've replaced the brake switch, turn signal switch, ran a new ground from the battery, and got new tail light circuit boards what is the problem

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Are the bulbs good or blown. It could be a blown fuse or a problem like mine had which is the passenger tail light wire was pinched/smashed.

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Awesome!!!! it worked for me on a 1997 k2500. Cables were pulled too tight. Once i combed back the cables the brake light started to work.

Thanks

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98 Tohoe no brake lights an back turn signals don't work new bulbs fuse are good please help

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Been sporadically attempting to figure out my, '98 4x4 Silverado- 5.7. Bought mine a year ago and all lights worked. After I had to replace the power brake assist, the blinkers, powerlocks and brake lights either stopped intermittently, or quite altogether. I have replaced the brake light switch, the two tail light circuit boards, all bulbs, fuses and relays... Every thing is working, except for the brake lights(although the blinkers blink fast), and not every time, but at least once a. Day, when I push the brake, the, 'stop/hazard' fuse blows...

Maybe a ground? More likely a exposed or. Damaged wire?

I don't know

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Hello fellas and thank you for your forum. I came to this site when I had the same issue with no brake lights after changing a booster. After many days probably a full week of taking it apart put it back together I figured out the problem was the hole at the end of the shaft that slides onto the brake pedal with the switch is therefore I drilled the hole of slightly larger and that fix my problem I went to the auto parts store and look up the parts numbers and they are definitely different numbers

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Hello I have a 99burbk1500 and I have no brake lights and have turn flash and put new brake switch and check all fuses and that's good just no freaking brake lights and it's irritating as heck and can some one Pease help me

Thank you

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Update it was a set of wires that comes off brake light switch that previous owner installed trailer brake switch n tapped into brake light switch wires n cut through them

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Have you checked bulbs? I'v got everything working now from replacing bulbs except reverse lights are still out

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I had this same problem. When I bought it from the first owner he told me someone tried to steal the car and hot wire it. When they were in the process of doing so they broke the hazard light switch on the steering wheel. I couldnt figure out why my light didn't work. After a lot of trial and error and research I pulled a used switch from pick n pull and swapped it out. Problem solved. I'm a carpenter and not a mechanic and some how figures it out on my own. Google and YouTube can be very helpful sometimes.

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1993 K3500, same problem...no brake lights but had all other lights. I found the white wire coming from the turn signal harness broke down at the flat connector at the bottom of the steering column. r2'd the harness and now I have brake lights!!!

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I had the same break light problem. After changing pedal switch and tracing all wires making sure of no bad wires or loose grounds still no break lights,accidentally found out the problem was “MY BULBS WERE NOT MAKING SOLID CONNECTION INSIDE THE SOCKET” cleaned all the bulb receiving sockets with a light solvent and used a straight pin to slightly pry my bulb leads out just a very little. Problem solved!!

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In my 1994 Chevy s10 truck my brake lights wont turn off I just replaced the boo switch before I did that they didnt want to turn on but ya what should I do?

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Chased no break lights but high mount was working along with all other lights worked fine turned out to be bad conection on combination switch plug

Im ashamed to say it took 5 hrs and im not a rookie i did unplugged and check previously but it was the conector retainer wasnt alowing enough hold for proper connection

1995 chevy suburban k1500 k398miles

(Really i think its time to take her to a gambler500

But shes never left me stranded other than #10boltssuck)

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Step on my brakes and my radio comes on but brake light do not come on

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I have no brake lights, reverse lights or running lights on my blazer. I’ve replaced fuse, checked bulbs, replaced brake light switch, checked wiring under dash and along frame rail with no results! I did however fix the gas gauge.

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Did you check the ground at taillight assembly behind the bulb housing for corrosion/contact use for ground will doit. Sometimes it's stupid simple things you wouldn't normally think of

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I have a 1993 Chevy k1500 I have no running lights in the rear the brake light works and the turn signal works to but no running light what could be the problem

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this is not an answer it is another question

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Was just helping my Father-in-law work on his ‘92 C1500. Had no brake lights and hazards were not working. The “STOP” fuse was blowing - sometimes after the brake was activated, and sometimes as soon as plugging in a new fuse. In trying to remove the fuse panel to check on wiring connections on the back we discovered that the hazard flasher (makes the ticking noise when the hazards are on) was broken and shorted out. We took the flasher out and the brake lights work great. Put the flasher back in and the hazards came on immediately but stayed on. The clear case around the flasher had broken and the copper was resting on some other ground point. I think it shorted the circuitry inside. So, off to the store to get a flasher. Glad we didn’t tear all the wiring out of the truck like we talked about doing.

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I guess I'm luckier than most…got more than one Chevy…..I have a c3500 with brake light issues…I tried the lights on another vehicle and they are fine…new brake switch…fuses are fine….gotta be a ground wire…changing the brake switch is a pain when I had to drop the steering wheel…figure I might as well change the lights on the cab…was shocked when I found no bulbs in it to start

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96 c1500 hazards running and turn signals work no brake lights. I'm inexperienced an have been over everything. Got to the point that I was on the brake switch an determining its functionality. If I push on the back side of the switch an activate it manually with my hand the brake lights work. Somehow there isnt enough slack between the pedal and the booster rod. If your familiar with how the switch works you'll know the pedal pushes the button before it starts pushing the rod to the booster. So I'm very confused, booster is correct everything is original except brake switch new. Earlier in the thread someone mentioned this problem an there solution was to drill the hole on the push rod larger to achieve the (slop) needed to activate the switch. What is really the problem? It's like if I had a spring behind the switch on the pushrod it would work fine. Plz help 3 days on this issue an countless articles an videos nothing?????

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John . I'm having the same problem . Did you get yours fixed ?

If so how .

95 Silverado c1500 2 wd

Mine worked fine until I changed the booster.

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I changed my brake light switch and my brake lights don't work i can activate the brake light switch by pressing the little tab but its all together it dont work all my other lights work its a 1997 chevy suburban

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I'm not quite done yet I didn't have any lights no I just got brake lights to fix yet. I got then working under the dash when hit the pedal coming out of the switch I'm thinking it's probably the relay it doesn't click when power is applied to it either that or it's in the column in the single light switch, but anyway don't forget the ground underneath the dash right behind where the OBD1 connector is that fixed most of my issues right there it didnt look bad a little bit of blue between the dash in the connector could be seen when I took it apart but by looking I would have thought it was a good connection

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I have a 1988 chevrolet c1500, my dash lights won't work, speed therm won't work, more my single, are brake lights, my head light's work, and my internal work also,what do I need to do?

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Another dissatisfied, no working ,battle off the rear lights blinking like my Christmas lights on our home..... Grounds are the meat off the most trouble I've read in so many blogs --for the older models like mine (1997)--I've really been surprised by most replying, some are seriously good posts too , but rarely do I ever read about first using a good electrical spray cleaner in all the pigtails -sockets to start off with -pull all one at a time and spray all them electrical connectors with purpose ..IF that did not solve any issues at hand ,Now we run the wires for the grounds being most off all the causes I've read over and over ... Remember when we all started learning the basics off engines ,first things first ,clean and wash the $@$* it has all over it -a cleaner and better ,easier engine rebuilding it back to life again --start at the basics --and then go to your pinched ,cut,melted grounds or white lead hot wires, etc.. ect.. ect.. --My $@$*!& two cents worth -good luck to all --dielectric cleaner on sale near y'all - all lights are present and accounted for .... A Sincere Salute with Prayers to the family's and all our Fallen and Living Brothers in Arms , A Blessed Veterans Day , Walk In Peace and in Faith

1997 Chevy S10 V 6 cyl 5 spd -extended cab -

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Will there ever be a solid answer..no, so try everything you read on here except the stupid crap.oh..C4s are all crap

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I have a 1989 Chevy k1500. Brand new brake light switch. Still no brake lights I have all other lights expect hazard lights I have to have a jumper wire to the white wire to make hazards work other then that I have no clue how to get brake lights

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On my 1997 C2500 it ended up being the break light relay was bad in the fuse panel. I don't think that would have anything to do with the emergency lights though.
Good luck.

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russ will be eternally grateful.
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