brake lights

iam having brake lights promblem on my 65 chevy van all my lights work but when i put my brakes on they dont work any ideas??

connect the 2 wires together that go on the brake light switch and see if the lights go on,,,,,

sorry man where is the switch located and do you splice them ?and then touch together?

if it does then what and if they dont what??

where can i get that switch??

google it

have

so,,,,,,,IF the brake lights came on when you disconnected the 2 wires and connected them together then you are getting somewhere,,,,,make sure the connectors are clean and see if the switch now works,,,,,,if you need a switch here is one,,,,,,also do a search for Delco D881,,,,,


http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Stoplight-Switch/_/R-ECHSL175_0460774943

Thanks buddy your the best

I just got one in the mail that I ordered on Ebay. It's a Standard SLS65 break light switch which was used on a variety of vehicles in the 60's and early 70's. I found mine for $15 plus free shipping.

An old trick to use when your checking to see if your break lights work is to position a mirror behind your van and aim it to your line of sight so you can see the break lights when you are working on the break light wires or switch. When I worked at the Chevy dealership I had an old rearview mirror that I could store in my tool cabinet that I would use. The mirror post worked as a prop that I could aim the mirror with. It works if you don't have someone to help you see if your rear lights are working if your in or under your vehicle.

Awlsome thanks gG

the switch is right behind the grille on the drivers side. if you pull the wires off the switch, one of them should have power to it and the other shouldn't have power. if you have power to one wire, then you should test the switch next. if neither wire has power, then you should check your fuses.
to test the switch, take the two wires and touch them together, one of two things will happen.
you get brake lights: replace the switch. or. . . .
you don't get brake lights: head up to the turn signal switch. follow the wiring up to it. the wire that doesn't have power at the switch is the one that goes up to the turn signal switch.
I hope this helps.

Thanks guys it was the switch replaced and i have Brake lights got it at NAPA

Now if you put the switch in and they still don't work, look at your turn signal switch, the brake lights go through this switch. There is a set of thin reed contacts in there that make and break with the signal cam and they wear out or break loose. GM even sold replacements in small bags for them, but today you need to replace the whole switch to repair them, but if you need them, you probably need a turn switch anyway. But check inside (pull your wheel) to look at these contacts, most brake light problems are there especially if one side works and other doesn't.

That's them! Once they get bent they are goners! I actually saw them in a GM bag for sale once, but easier to just replace the switch if you need them, mine were mangled.

Where is the brake light switch located? Disregard. The answer is in the post above. Duh.

donivan65 wrote:

I think this is my problem, my drivers side brake light is not working but the turn signal is? Probably the center post #1 is not touching when the signal is turned off?

,,,maybe jiggle the turn signal handle   with the brake pedal down and see if you can make that  # 6 LR band make contact with that #1 signal from the brake light switch and turn that brake light on for a test,,,,,,but that switch has  probably seen better days,,,,,,,,

Is there a way to move the plastic arm out of the way of the contacts without breaking it?
I think if I could get at the pin I could clean it at the contact point.
If the plastic arm was not in the way I could clean it easily.
Looks like I will have to remove the assembly to get the arm off?
I had a broken one I left in the Panel when I sold it, if I still had it I probably could have robbed the contact part from it

you gots to dig deep,,,,,,that cancelling arm has a screw under it,,,,,,,which means you undo the connectors,,,,and the screws holding the switch in, then pull the switch out enough to get to under it to  that 1 screw,,,,,,,,and,,,,,,,them there bobby pins in the switch dont like to be touched,,,,,they got to be bent PERFECT so they make all 6 contacts,,,,,,,

That's what I thought, Thanks Donivan

I took it apart and gently sanded between the contacts and sprayed some electrical cleaner in there, All of my lights are working again.