Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Restoration Corner => Topic started by: stzomah on September 11, 2017, 12:45:47 PM

Title: Hand Brake Light Fix
Post by: stzomah on September 11, 2017, 12:45:47 PM
I noticed the HBL was not working.  I just redid the dashboard last year (see thread on this forum) so it could have never been the light bulb!  Anyway, I dug into the hand brake switch.  I noticed a Tan wire connecting to the switch.  The switch was stuck to begin with but even when I freed the plunger, the light did not work.  I pulled out the schematic and traced the wire back to the light bulb socket on the back for the instrument cluster.

Looking at the schematic, I was dismayed.  Reading the schematic, I should see 2 wires (pink and tan).  I only see 1.  I used an ohm meter and verified that the other leg of the switch goes to ground.  The schematic does not show the wiring correctly.  I updated (rough sketch) my correction below.

I pulled the switch and sprayed it heavily with contact cleaner and switch lubrication.  It works like new.  I then reinstalled everything but still no light!  Darn, I checked for power, I checked for ground….I wonder???  Well the only thing to check is the bulb…  It was blown!  So much for my quality control!  I was SURE I replaced all the bulbs when I did the dashboard restoration.  I missed one!  Everything works well now…
Title: Re: Hand Brake Light Fix
Post by: stzomah on September 11, 2017, 12:48:03 PM
Here's the schematic mod...