1998 Brake Light Switch Removal Help

Speedrcr5 · October 6, 2009

My trucks brake lights have a mind of their own!! I have read that these brake light switch's are known to go bad. There are times when my brake lights illuminate and other times they don't. Turn signals work all the time, it is only the brake lights. I have purchased a new brake light switch and I'm having one heck of a time getting to the switch and getting the fastener off the switch to get it out. Any help and photo's of what needs to be removed to expedite this repair would be greatly appreciated. Also, do I need any special tool to accomplish this feat.

Magnumb · October 7, 2009

Lay on your back and spread your cheeks..your truck is going to F you over:)

It took me an hour and some really bloody knuckles. I used a double ended S-shaped flat head and a meatal pick to get that clip off. The flat head to push it off while useing the pick to push down on the center of the clip. BUY A GM BRAKE SWITCH, the one I bought from the auto store broke after a couple weeks.

625fireman · October 7, 2009

Its also good to get a new clip too. Put some needlenose vice grips on it and twist and pull and cuss and eventually it will come off mangled but it will come off. Put in the new switch and then the new clip and all is well. clip goes on ALOT easier than it comes off.

Speedrcr5 · October 8, 2009

Lay on your back and spread your cheeks..your truck is going to F you over:)

LMAO!!

Thanks for the advise. I will give it another try this weekend. I will let you know how pissed off I get and how far along that I get. I'm hoping to have it fixed by this Sunday.

Again, I really appreciate the info. Especially what types of instuments to use to remove this Mother.

Speedrcr5 · October 11, 2009

Well Magnumb and 625fireman, I replaced the brake switch. What a PITA the clip is to get off!! I put the new one on except I left the clip off until I was sure that it would work. However, when I first push on the brake pedal and slowly push it in 2/3 of the way to the floor it will illuminate the stop lights and then they go out for another 1/2 inch of travel and then they will come back on when the pedal is almost to the floor. I bought a replacement from Advanced auto and I'm assuming that it is the problem. Therefore, I should have listened to you about purchasing the part from GM, which I will do this week and replace the Advanced part with the GM part.

If this same senario happens with the GM part, what else could be the problem?

PS. I managed to keep my knuckles from getting busted!!!!

Again, thanks for the helpful information.

Speedrcr5 · October 13, 2009

I replaced the brake light switch with one from GM. Cost for the switch and clip was $22.98. I'm still getting the same problem as before. When I first push on the brake pedal and slowly push it in 2/3 of the way to the floor it will illuminate the stop lights and then they go out for another 1/2 inch of travel and then they will come back on when the pedal is almost to the floor.

What else could be the problem?

I hate electrical issues. I don't think that the circuit board that the taillights/stoplights plug into is bad. If it was bad I don't think that the lights would be on at all.