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Intermittent brake lights not working due to the Multi function control arm

Tiny
TAMPATODD
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
My brake lights work off and on because of the multi function control arm What is involved with fixing it? Thank you so much for any assistant. TLW
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 AT 7:12 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
The brake lights are independent. And are on a seperate circuit. They work of the brake light switch on the brake pedal. With them working spartic check the power going to the switch. You could have a bad switch.
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Monday, December 22nd, 2008 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
I attached the info on how to replace the multi function switch but this controls the turn signals and bright light on/off switch it does not control the brake lights. I suspect your issue is the brake light switch is out of adjustment. I attached the process on how to adjust this. Let me know if you have questions and how you make out. Thanks
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Monday, April 27th, 2020 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
BSAV9856
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 3.1L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 108,900 MILES
I have to manipulate my turn signal lever to get my brake lights to work. What can I do about this? The 8th digit of the VIN is "M". The vehicle is listed above LS model. Will I have to remove the steering wheel to repair this problem? If so, how do I go about this?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
It sounds like the switch is bad. Yes, the steering wheel needs removed to repair this. Before you do anything to the vehicle, disconnect the battery and wait about 30 minutes to make sure the air bag won't deploy when working on it. Then you simply need to remove the steering wheel assembly to access the switch.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JIMDOG
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
I have a 1998 monte carlo that I can not seem to fix brake lights. The rear third light works just fine when appling brakes but the other two just work when they want to. I change the switch on the pedel and all bulbs and fuse but still the same. I am so confused I need help.I tested for power at switch and that is working but when I tested the sockets on the brake lights I get nothing. But when the deside to work I get power everywhere. They only work limited time. They are stubburn! Please help thank you.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Souds like an intermittent short, you will need to trace the wire back to the stop light switch.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MONTE_98
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a very similar problem the third brake light works fine. The bottom two don't. I checked the bulbs they seem to look good (the filaments). I know that the trunk was replaced and that the wires were left disconnected. I tried to splice them back together but that didn't fix it. I looked at the fuses all of the transparent ones are good. The plastic gray ones I dont know. Anyways, I wanted to know if there was anything else I could test or what to test or any other suggestions
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JLB9929
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
We just fixed the same problem and dont ask why but gm runs the brake lights thru the turn signal we replaced the turn signal switch and no more problems was not easy but the part was 60.00 at auto zone
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:40 PM (Merged)

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