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No brake lights on my 41

Started by JoeKarasinski, August 15, 2014, 11:30:56 PM

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JoeKarasinski

Any suggestions on what to look for or where to start? Thank you!

31caddy

Take a meter and check for voltage on one side of the brake light switch. If nothing on either side, check for problems "upstream" ie, fuse (don't know if a 41 has any), broken wire from power source etc. If you do have power at brake light switch, mash the pedal and see if there is power on the other side of it. If not, brake light switch is bad. This can be confirmed by putting a jumper across it and checking to see if the brake lights work, or by seeing if the switch has continuity or not with an ohm meter when the switch is in the actuated position. The wiring diagram for this car will make this a super easy and fast troubleshooting job. You can also work from the brake lights forward if you like by having someone depress the brake pedal while you check for voltage with a meter between one of the bulb socket pins and ground. If you have voltage, your problem is the bulbs or a bad ground at the brake light. If no voltage, check at the brake light switch as previously described to find out whether the problem is upstream or downstream of the brake light switch.
R. Rowland CLC #28971

1931 Model 355A Sedan (Recently sold)
1931 Model 355A Fleetwood 4535 Convertible Coupe
2005 Cadillac XLR

Bob Schuman

Joe,
Check the brake light switch first, as described in the previous reply. These switches do not have the long life that the originals did, and fail progressively as the internal contacts burn, requiring increasing brake pedal pressure to operate the lights, until finally they do not light at all. If the switch is bad, they are available at most auto parts stores. To replace, just disconnect the wires, unscrew, and screw in the new one and reconnect the wires. It will not be necessary to bleed the brakes, as only a few drops of brake fluid will be lost.

Bob Schuman, CLC#254
Bob Schuman, CLC#254
2017 CT6-unsatisfactory (repurchased by GM)
2023 XT5

Bill Ingler #7799

Too add to what Bob has said, if you have had stop lights and suddenly no lights, it is almost sure to be the stop light switch. Switches as Bob has said are available at auto parts stores and you will see them on ebay. Service life of the new switch you will find at the auto parts store or ebay will be far less than a NOS switch say made by old time manufactures like Cole- Boston or Niehoff. These older NOS switches come up on ebay and you might pay more for a NOS switch than the new switch at the auto parts store but in my opinion it is money well spent. If you plan on driving your car a lot, then try to buy an older NOS switch and put on the shelf. Picture below is a Cole Boston on the left, Niehoff in middle and the shinny switch on the right is what you will find at the auto parts store or on ebay.  Bill

R Schroeder

A very quick check to see if switch is bad is to just unplug wire harness from switch. Put a jumper wire in wire harness plug. Brakes lights should come on. If they don't, read reply #1.
Roy

joeceretti

Try pressing the brakes harder, they might come on if the switch isn't completely gone (Like Bob said). That's how mine were.