My Brake Light has stopped working on my Silverado?

Tiny
NORBS87
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
My Brake Light has stopped working on my 2014 Silverado. I have a truck topper installed and the center brake light is out on it as well. I checked the CHMSL fuse and it is fine. Any ideas?
Saturday, October 24th, 2015 AT 4:48 PM

33 Replies

Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
There are many fuses that run the system which need to be checked because the lighting systems are run by the BCM, here is a guide to help and I have included the fuse location as well. If all fuses are good I would check the ground (g400) for the bulb socket. Here is the blinker and brake light wiring diagrams so you can see which fuses to check plus a guide to help check the ground.

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 the fuses and grounds are good the BCM could be out but to be sure lets do a CAN scan, you can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) which will work on most cars from Amazon here is a video to show you how.

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

If it comes up with e code for the bcm you can get a preprogrammed unit by searching Google or Ebay. Here is how to change out the BCM as well. Check out the images (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, April 11th, 2019 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
MGWOOD33
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 4.8L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
I was messing with my trailer lights and replaced a fuse and it seemed to fix my trailer issue. However right after my tail lights on my truck immediately stopped working, no brake lights or turn signals. The only thing that works is the third brake light. I’ve checked all of my fuses and can’t find any bad ones and I recently replaced my brake light switch. Does anyone have any ideas? I assume it’s a fuse I’m overlooking.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi,

Do the back up lights work? Also, if you disconnect the trailer from the truck, does it make a difference?

Since the third brake light is working, we know it isn't the switch. Do me a favor. Check the fuse I circled in pic 1.

If the fuse is good, check for power to the dark green wire in pic 2 and confirm continuity to ground as well. In pic 3, check for power to the yellow wire and for continuity to ground.

Let me know what you find. Also, let me know if any of the other tail lights are working.

Take care,
Joe
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAUDEL0007
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 12,000 MILES
The brakes lights on my truck will not work when I press my brakes. The tail lights work on the top but the bottom tail lights does not work. The third brake light works, located at the top above the rear glass. I tried checking the fuse under the hood and on side of the door. All seem to be good, I even changed the brake terminal under the brake pedal. The brake light bulbs r good, Cant figure it out.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Test or replace the turn signal and flasher module all the brake and tail circuits going to the back goes thru here
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAUDEL0007
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Where are the turn signal and flasher module located.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Its in left of instrument panel fuse block on lower left side of dash. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAUDEL0007
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Ok, that fixed it thanks for your help. I like this site
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SSTEVE694
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
Electrical problem V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 32500 miles

my brake lights do not work, but the cab brake light does. The flashers will work and turn indicators also. So I know its not in the fuse, and changed out both bulbs.

Just found out a few days ago. Brake lights do not work but all other signals and the cab brake light works.

Tested everything, switch is fine, receiving power to the fuse panel under the hood and in the cab fuse. Grounds look good, bulbs good. No visible wiring issues.

What would you recommend as a way to test the switch? I have spend 8 hours testing every wire in/out of the turn switch and the fuse panel to no conclusions. I tried jumping across the switch itself to no success. Tried unplugging it to no success.

The white(brake power) is good coming out of the switch going into the fuse panel and into the turn lever itself. The CM brake light tests good. The rear brake fuse jumps up and drops back down to zero on the multi meter. Testing the backside of the fuse panel blue wire tests good 12v when pressing the brake pedal which is odd. From the wiring diagram all this doesn't make sense. I am looking for a way to make sure its the switch itself before purchasing one. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Anyone figure this out yet?
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
Hey guys,

There is a fuse that runs just the lower brake lights, here is a guide and some wiring diagrams to help you trace the problem down. Check to see if there is power at the brake lights to see if the problem is a ground issue. Check the brake light wiring diagrams below so you can see how the system works.

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

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-lights-not-working

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WALKER9797
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hi everyone.

Here is a new twist. I have a 2004 silverado with no brake lights or 3rd light. I have power at the underhood fuse and at the orange and when pedal depressed power in white wire. However I have no power in 15 amp dash fuse. What do you suggest?

Jim walker
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
What number is the fuse? Here are wiring diagrams so you can see how it works with the flasher module location which sounds like it is out. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VOLLENC
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 45,000 MILES
Hi,

New member. Brake lights out except Center High Mount Stop Lamp. Rear Junction Block or Turn Signal Module? Thanks.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Suspect faulty brake light switch. Switch is located on brake pedal arm, under driver side dash. Brake light switch controls the two main brake lamps while a separate relay controls the high-mount lamp.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VOLLENC
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for your reply. I did check the switch earlier. Unclipped it from pedal/bracket, inspected and re-installed with no luck. I've got 12V at the fuse. Also I have brake lights through my factory trailer harness. I was pulling on the turn signal module because it's mentioned in a thread on this site, and another I saw earlier. The rear junction block is suspect for me only for the fact that I don't think it's just a dumb block, but some type of electronic assy. I don't know. FYI I'm using Alldata electrical schematics.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
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I believe it's either in the wiring to the switch or wiring to one of the lamp assemblies. Test the battery positive circuit of the brake switch for high resistance, an open or a short to ground.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VOLLENC
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Will do. Thanks.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRUCKGUY1016
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
The Brake lights on the bed dont work, also the trailer connection isnt working. My third brake light works though) I replaced the bulbs in the tail light assembly. And checked the old bulbs but they work fine. I checked the fuses under the hood and in the dash. Dash-good. Underhood-bad. So I replaced the one under the hood. The one in the dash says "VEH STOP" and the one under the hood says "TRL PARK" (the new one hasnt blown) ok, Thinking I had the problem fixed ! But nope! I came on this site and found a trouble shooting guide step by step. Ok thought I had it now. I followed each step and found I had power to both fuses, the brake light switch(on the orange, and the white) I have power all the way through the check list till the last step. When I check I have no voltage coming through the light Blue wire at the tail light. I crawled under the truck and followed the harness back all the way to underneath the cab. I peeled back the plastic protective sleeve, and fanned out the wires. I stripped off a tiny piece of the jacket on that light blue wire, and checked the voltage. ( With the brake off, and with it depressed- nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated ! I fear it is a bad wiring harness, But like I mentioned, I have parking lights, back up lights, turn signals, just no brake lights.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INTERNETMECHANIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 700 POSTS
I couldn't do any better than your doing, I'd have to backtrack the circuit. There appears to be a junction for the fuse circuit at the underhood fuse box. Lite blue wire, E7 in the diagram. That circuit comes from the stop fuse.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/512072_silverado_brake_lite_1.jpg

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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
02REDCAMARO
  • MECHANIC
  • 65 POSTS
I had a similar problem with a 96 Silverado with a fiberglass topper. Problem I found was a bad ground that someone had done when they wired up the third brake light and interior dome light on the topper. I found the bad ground on the rear frame rail where the topper installer decided to terminate it.
I'd look underneath the box for some non-factory wiring, and check and clean the termination points.
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)

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