No brake lights or emergency flashers
 

I'm working on a '97 Chevy Suburban and I have no brake lights, turn signals or emergency flashers. I thought it was just brake lights as I did have turn signals, I changed the brake light switch on the brake pedal and then realized I had no brake lights or emergency flashers. Does the emergency flasher switch in the steering column control all this? (brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers)

Yes it does

Okay, I changed the turn signal/emergency flasher switch and that didn't do it either. I still have running lights and headlights, but no brake lights, turn signals or emergency flashers. Any suggestions?

Have you checked the fuses?

Yes, I have checked the brake fuse and the stop hazard fuse as well, both are still good.

Ok, I've determined that I had a bad alternator and while I was working on the brake light switch the battery had drained down pretty low. After I installed the new turn signal/emergency switch; there wasn't enough power to operate the lights. I charged the battery and everything is working fine now...after replacing the alternator of course. Thanks for all the help.

thanks for updating your fix

Glad you got it figured out, and fixed.

Moved to Truck/ SUV thread

Well I thought I had it fixed...but...after about 2 weeks we noticed similar issues again, no turn signals or brake lights...but you could turn on the flashers then turn them off and everything would work for a while...then quit again. Oddly enough, it worked perfectly fine last September when the wife took it for inspection. But soon began acting up again shortly after.

Then this past august it went south again...the brake lights would work until you turned on the signal indicator...then the brake light would go out and nothing worked for that side until you cancelled the signal...and the brake light would come back on. As the inspection was due again I took off last Friday and pulled the signal switch out again and took it back to O'reilly's and got another one and put it in. Everything worked fine and I took it for inspection...on the way home however...it quit working again. Brake lights work until you turn on a signal, then that brake light goes out until you cancel the signal. The emergency flashes may or may not work...after engaging the switch several times, the emergency flashers will come on for 3 or 4 blinks then nothing.

Any suggestions?