stumped???

hoorders · September 6, 2005

Hi everyone,

I just noticed that my third brake light on my 2000 silverado 1500 z71 is not working. I checked the bulbs and they seem fine. Filaments are not broken.........and by the way, how the heck do you get those bulbs out???

Is there a seperate fuse for the third brake light or is it wired into the same wires for the brake lights on the tail lights?

Any help would be great.

redvett · September 6, 2005

Check out the brake switch. There are 2 circuts to the lights primary for the out board lights & secondary for the CHIMSL.

71GMC_3/4T · September 6, 2005

I think there's also a connector down by the receiver hitch that is wired with the CHIMSL. Maybe that connector or it's wiring got shorted out? On mine, it's a 2 pin connector just hanging there.

az'03Silverado · September 7, 2005

That's funny, usually it's the third brake light that works and the others are out. If that was the case I'd say check the turn signal-high-beam-wiper switch/lever. If it goes bad somethimes it makes the brake lights go funny. But I'd check the fuses and such because there are two circuits. Good luck.

hoorders · September 7, 2005

Check out the brake switch. There are 2 circuts to the lights primary for the out board lights & secondary for the CHIMSL.

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Where is the brake switch and what is CHIMSL??

71GMC_3/4T · September 7, 2005

Brake switch should be above the brake pedal, usually a pushbutton type switch actuated by the pedal arm.

CHMSL is Center High Mounted Stop Light.

hoorders · September 7, 2005

Brake switch should be above the brake pedal, usually a pushbutton type switch actuated by the pedal arm.

CHMSL is Center High Mounted Stop Light.

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Awesome.............thanks for the quick reply.................I was looking at the fuses yesterday and never thought to check the CHMSL fuses because I had no idea what that was.

Thanks!!

hoorders · September 8, 2005

Brake switch should be above the brake pedal, usually a pushbutton type switch actuated by the pedal arm.

CHMSL is Center High Mounted Stop Light.

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Sure enough it was the CHMSL fuse....................replaced it and its working fine now.................thank for your help!!!!..........

BG46 · January 5, 2006

I have a similiar problem.

A guy stopped me at a stop light today and said both brake lights did not work, only the CHMSL.

I find it usual both lights went out at the same time.

My rear red lights work when it's dark and the lights are on.

Ironically my cruise just quit working also.

any chance it is the brake switch or something like that.

I checked the brake and cruise fuses and they are OK, actually I replaced them just in case they were broken in a spot I couldn't see.

Any ideas on what to check and do????

Thanks

hoorders · January 5, 2006

I have a similiar problem.
A guy stopped me at a stop light today and said both brake lights did not work, only the CHMSL.

I find it usual both lights went out at the same time.

My rear red lights work when it's dark and the lights are on.

Ironically my cruise just quit working also.

any chance it is the brake switch or something like that.

I checked the brake and cruise fuses and they are OK, actually I replaced them just in case they were broken in a spot I couldn't see.

Any ideas on what to check and do????

Thanks

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First thng I wold try is replace the bulbs..............chances are slim that they both went bad at the same time, but its worth checking that out first. If bulbs are good and fuses are good I would check the brake switch.

6.slow · January 7, 2006

Just installed a lighted hitch cover on the wife's truck. 98 K1500 tow package, plow prep, Z71.... Required a 4-flat connector. Only had the 6 round plug on the truck. So I found a 4-flat "T" connector, and "spliced" it into the factory wiring. Simple, (other than a simple ground wire I screwed into the frame) no cutting, just plug and go, right? Wrong. The hitch cover lights up with the brakes and the right blinker, but not the left. WTF? Checked and rechecked all connections, to no avail. Haven't towed with this truck for a few years now. I tried putting adapters in the 6-round plug and directly into the hitch plug, and I get nothing. (I tried 4 different adapters!) I'm almost sure the top brake light worked before I started playing with this. Any ideas?

Also, I noticed the CHMSL ain't working. The cargo lights worked, so I figured the bulbs were junk. Well, you pull hard enough and they like to break between your fingers! The manual says bulb # 93, but the bulb (that I didn't crush in my fingers) says T912 E2. What am I gonna need? Any help?

blue2kzr2 · January 8, 2006

6.slow, check the packaging of that hitch cover, I'll bet it only blinks with the right signal. I seem to recall some being advertised that were designed that way.

6.slow · January 8, 2006

6.slow, check the packaging of that hitch cover, I'll bet it only blinks with the right signal. I seem to recall some being advertised that were designed that way.

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no go. It don't say anything about how it works. It's a "Bully hitch cover brake light". As for the instructins, it does say to plug into trailer plug. Also if your plug don't match, cut the end off an connect grounds, and brake AND blinker to the other wire. Why would anyone make such a product to only work with the right blinker? (if that was the case)? It's even a GM licensed product! huh?

blue2kzr2 · January 8, 2006

How many contacts are in the plug for it? On the 4-prong plug, signal and brake are handled through one wire per side, so right signal and brake are through one contact, left through another. I bet the hitch cover pulls from the right brake wire, causing it to flash with the right signal also.