Brake Light

[dev]

03 chevy silverado z71 brake light is very dim on dash but stays on even when switch is off.

[Draenor]

Is the parking brake on?

[dev]

Is the parking brake on?

No parking brake is not on.

[VR021302]

sound like a short in the circuit, ecspecially since the light is ALWAYS on, even with no key

[bill190]

Hummm... That a very interesting problem, especially since it continues to stay lit with the ignition off!

 

It sounds to me like an electronic problem. Electronic "chips" and circuit boards sometimes have similar problems.

 

BUT sometimes it can be something simple. Check your brake fluid and the wiring to your brake components under the hood.

 

Then there is the "crawling insect" shorting wires on a circuit board problem, so might look at the associated circuit boards for bugs or whatever should not be there. (Spilled liquids can cause this type of thing.)

 

Then if all else fails, get the wiring diagram, a multimeter, and start checking wires to be sure all the wiring is ok. Then if all the input wires are doing as they should, then that would leave an electronic circuit board problem as the prime suspect.

[dev]

Hummm... That a very interesting problem, especially since it continues to stay lit with the ignition off!

 

It sounds to me like an electronic problem. Electronic "chips" and circuit boards sometimes have similar problems.

 

BUT sometimes it can be something simple. Check your brake fluid and the wiring to your brake components under the hood.

 

Then there is the "crawling insect" shorting wires on a circuit board problem, so might look at the associated circuit boards for bugs or whatever should not be there. (Spilled liquids can cause this type of thing.)

 

Then if all else fails, get the wiring diagram, a multimeter, and start checking wires to be sure all the wiring is ok. Then if all the input wires are doing as they should, then that would leave an electronic circuit board problem as the prime suspect.

what side of vehicle is electronic circuit board, is it in the left kick panel by parking brake.

[bill190]

what side of vehicle is electronic circuit board, is it in the left kick panel by parking brake.

 

These are all around the vehicle in various metal or plastic "boxes" and used for different things.

 

Basically if something is "electronic" there is an electronic circuit board. Around the house, things like stereos, microwave, phones, etc. and lately just about anything which has a "digital" display has an electronic circuit board. So for newer appliances, include range, coffee maker, and refrigerator.

 

Same with a vehicle. The dash instrument cluster may have an electronic circuit board, the engine has a computer which is on an electronic circuit board, stereo, anti-lock brakes, information center, mirror with compass, climate control, and on and on. Then these things can be connected together to "talk" to each other.

 

To find brake related electronic circuit boards (electronics), you would look at a factory service manual and wiring diagram which would explain how something like the brake light operates, which inputs and electronic modules control it, associated wiring, cables, wire colors, locations, and troubleshooting with a multimeter and pinpoint tests of specific locations on various connectors.

[dev]

what side of vehicle is electronic circuit board, is it in the left kick panel by parking brake.

 

These are all around the vehicle in various metal or plastic "boxes" and used for different things.

 

Basically if something is "electronic" there is an electronic circuit board. Around the house, things like stereos, microwave, phones, etc. and lately just about anything which has a "digital" display has an electronic circuit board. So for newer appliances, include range, coffee maker, and refrigerator.

 

Same with a vehicle. The dash instrument cluster may have an electronic circuit board, the engine has a computer which is on an electronic circuit board, stereo, anti-lock brakes, information center, mirror with compass, climate control, and on and on. Then these things can be connected together to "talk" to each other.

 

To find brake related electronic circuit boards (electronics), you would look at a factory service manual and wiring diagram which would explain how something like the brake light operates, which inputs and electronic modules control it, associated wiring, cables, wire colors, locations, and troubleshooting with a multimeter and pinpoint tests of specific locations on various connectors.

 

Thanks for your Help. Looks like fun.