First off, my car is a 1985 Fleetwood Brougham.

I need some help here guys. A while ago I noticed that my brake lights were not working when I apply the brakes. Yesterday I replaced the brake light switch with a new switch that I picked up from the dealer, and still nothing. Now for the interesting part, today I took off the brake switch (with the harness still connected) and the brake lights worked, now I push the button on the switch (as if the brakes are not applied) and the lights shut off. I did this a few times and everything seemed fine, so I put the switch back in place and took the car around the block, and after a few min. of driving, back to no brake lights. I also had the same damn thing happen with the old switch. When I turn on the lights (manually or sensitel) the tail lights light up, turn signals work (the right rear turn signal was not working at times with the new switch installed??). This blows because I don't want to take the chance and get rear ended by someone, so I can't drive the car until I get this problem taken car of.

I am thinking 1 of 2 things:
1) The brake switch I got new from the Cadillac Dealer is also bad???
2) There is a problem somewhere in the actual wire????

Has any one had any similar problems and is there something I am over looking? Any suggestions are highly appreciated.

Sorry for such a long post.

There's a good chance that your problem is in the column. Either a bad connection or a bad turn signal switch. One thing I remember being fairly common was the big wide harness connector under the dash (clipped onto the steering column actually) had a tendancy to come partially apart and cause intermittent electrical issues like you are describing.

There's a good chance that your problem is in the column. Either a bad connection or a bad turn signal switch. One thing I remember being fairly common was the big wide harness connector under the dash (clipped onto the steering column actually) had a tendancy to come partially apart and cause intermittent electrical issues like you are describing.

Thanks for the information Katshot. The harness you mentioned is the thin wide one that is connected on the side of the steering column, right? If we are talking about the same wire harness then I'll check that out later on today.

As far as the turn signal switch, is there another way to rule it out or determine if it is the source of the problems??

I appreciate the help, thanks.

sounds like you have the wrong switch or it is bad or something, you could also have a short some where and playing with the wires may have fixed the short for a little bit, but when you drove it the wires grounded out or shorted again.

sounds like you have the wrong switch or it is bad or something, you could also have a short some where and playing with the wires may have fixed the short for a little bit, but when you drove it the wires grounded out or shorted again.

That is what I'm thinking of. For now, I'm going to replace the switch again and if that does not do the trick, it looks like the car will go to the dealer.

I still need your help guys. Today I was conducting some ghetto home-made test. While I pushed the brake peddle, I was tilting the steering wheel up and down up and down, and the brake lights were coming on at certain times and the turing off.

So could this be the turn signal cam (if that is the correct name for it) or actual wires are bad????

Thanks once again.

PROBLEM SOLVED! Thanks for all of the help guys. I took the Caddy to the dealer and the problem was just as Katshot diagnosed it to be; a broken wire somewhere along the line. So I ended up paying $96 (1 hr. labor, and some but-connectors) to get this issue solved once and for all (I hope).

Hi,

I'm having a very similar problem and posted right before or after you. Do you know where the wire was broken....did they say on the invoice, or what was done to repair it? It sounds as if we are having almost exactly the same problem, or at least in the same wiring circuit. Thanks.

John

Hi,

I'm having a very similar problem and posted right before or after you. Do you know where the wire was broken....did they say on the invoice, or what was done to repair it? It sounds as if we are having almost exactly the same problem, or at least in the same wiring circuit. Thanks.

John

I'm sorry I really don't know which wire the dealer reconnected. My best guess is that the wires that needed to be reconnected are the ones that are connected on the side of the steering column (the thin wide wire harness). Good luck.

Question: Where IS the brake light switch on a 98 Eldorado?