1998 Chevy Silverado Brake Lights, High Beam Lights, Cruse

HOLLISDOUGLAS

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
195,000 MILES

At first my high beams quit working, then my cruse control, and now my brake lights. I've checked fuses and relays, and now I want to check the control arm switch on the colum. I'm almost certain I have to remove the air bag on the steering in order to get to the control arm switch so I can check to see if it is faulty. Although I've read in a Chilton repair manual how to remove the air bag on the steering wheel my set-up seems to be a little different or i'm doing something wrong and have yet been able to remove it. Can you explain or provide a pic to show me how to remove the air bag from the steering wheel, explain what I need to do to check to see if the control arm switch is faulty, and finaly explain the procedure for replacing the control switch arm. Thanks for your help.

3 Replies

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

Do not bother testing the switch. Everything you indicated points to a broken turn / hazzard signal switch. Your brake lights are wired through this switch. Change the whole switch. I do not think that the airbag must be removed, but you should dissable it by removing the airbag fuse.

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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 AT 2:22 AM

HOLLISDOUGLAS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I did not have to remove the air bag in order to check the turn signal arm switch, instead I noticed that once I removed the bottom plastic cover of the steering wheel colum that there were two torx screws holding on the top plastic cover of the steering wheel colum. One of the torx screws can be easly seen on the bottom left side of the steering colum while the other on the right side cannot because it is located near the ignition switch. After I had removed the top cover of the steering wheel there were two screws holding the turn signal arm switch onto the steering wheel colum. When I removed the turn signal arm switch and performed my initial inspection I found one broken wire and two wires that had shorted together. Once these were repaired and the turn signal arm switch was replaced I regained all functions it provided.

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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 AT 5:54 PM

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

Good to hear you fixed it without having to replace the unit. These units commonly fail internally so that was a great find and inspection -- good job!

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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 AT 12:22 AM