My Brake Light has stopped working on my Silverado?

Tiny
JSCHEVY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
The brake lights on the bed are not working. However the brake light on the cab is working. I replaced the bulbs and I checked the fuses, but that was not it. Please help me figure out what to do?
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
First question I always ask is; do you have a trailer connector spliced in behind the bumper? 75% of the time, that's where the problem is. Please advise.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JSCHEVY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I believe I have one but it is factory installed. Does that make a difference? And, what in particular would be the problem there, a short or is there a fuse there?
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
You will want to test your trailer connector to see if you have brake lights there. You're looking for an "open" in the circuit somewhere. The brake light switch has to be functioning or the cab light wouldn't be working. Please look at the wiring diagrams below. Check out the images (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JSCHEVY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I tested the harnesses that adjoin on the connection block. I get main power coming in. However, when I test the brake connections, no power. I have power to my tail lights, blinkers and all, which look to be coming from that block as well. A parts guy said that usually those blocks go out on one full side, which sounds to me like if it was the block then I would have either the right or the lefts side lights out. You said that it could be an open, but I don't know where to test it to find out, because I am not getting power to my brake lights from that block. What suggestions do you have?
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
You're right, the chances of both sides going bad are poor to none.
Let's start from square 1. We'll be testing at the socket for the "turn signal flasher module", under the left side of the dash. The brake lights go through this module.
The brake lights are fused seperately from a 25amp fuse(# unknown) in the underhood fuse block. This fuse should be hot all the time.
Fuse good, yes, test the orange wire at brake light switch.
Orange hot, yes, push the brake pedal and test the white wire on the BL switch.
White hot, yes? Test the white wire at the flasher module, terminal B, with brake pedal pressed.
Hot, yes?, check fuse #9 in fuse block by flasher module.
Fuse good?, yes, check the junctions and connections on the light blue wires going back to the brake light lamps.
Fuse #9 should be hot when the brake pedal is pressed.Let me know what you find.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/248092_05_silverado_flasher_1.jpg

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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROBERT GLENN FRANCIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Well It's now the end of April 2016 and my chevy silverado 3500 has a similar issue. Everything works except the bed lamps for the brakes. I hooked up the boat trailer and all checks out perfect. It's the twighlight zone issue. I can not find fuse #9 because the label on the lid does not show numbers for the fuses. I wish I could understand the schematics better but my studied discipline is in another field I can only get close at best. Any help would be most appreciated.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:51 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SFOX570
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 240,000 MILES
I have no stop light in bed of truck. I've checked fuses and they are good same with bulbs.
Changed the circuit board. The cab light works tail lights, reverse lights and turn signals work, but no brake lights.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you aer talking about the circuit board in back of truck that doesn't have anything to do with roof lights. The brake switch wires to the fuse box and fuse then to light. I have pointed out which are which. I tmay be either a bad brake light switch or the fuse isn't making good contact in fuse box. See pic
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVID STRICKLIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 155,000 MILES
Also cruise control not working. I've changed brake sensor switch on pedal changed all fuses and bulbs and the relay box in rear of truck.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi Dave and welcome to 2CarPros.

You have already done a lot. I have to ask, is there power to the switch at all times? If you take a look at the section of the wiring schematic I attached, you will see power comes from a 25 amp fuse in the under hood fuse box. It then travels to the switch via an orange wire. I need to know if there is power at the switch. Also, I need to know if the turn signals are working properly.

I've noted you indicate little knowledge. Here are a few links that will help you with checking for power, checking the fuse and power to the fuse and so on:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

If you find there is power to the switch from the orange wire, actuate the switch and check of power makes it through the switch and into the white wire.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVID STRICKLIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, turn signals work. My cigarette lighter blows fuses from time to time as well. Don't know if this helps but when I had my trailer hooked up the left turn signal would blink once and stay on. My low fuel light stopped coming on as well.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,254 POSTS
Welcome back:

Often times when the signal stops flashing when you have a trailer connected, you need to replace the flasher with a HD one. Were you able to check for power to the switch?
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)

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