News: Putting FUN and FRIENDLINESS, FIRST into owning and learning about AMC small bodied cars, primarily Eagles, Spirits and Concords as well as vehicles built in AMC's Mexican subsidiary, VAM.

The AMC Eaglepedia can now be accessed using the buttons found below  This is a comprehensive ever growing archive of information, tips, diagrams, manuals, etc. for the AMC Eagle and other small bodied AMC cars. 

Also a button is now available for our Face Book Group page.


Welcome to the AMC Eagles Nest.  A new site under "old" management -- so welcome to your new home for everything related to AMC Eagles, Spirits and Concords along with opportunities to interact with other AMC'ers.  This site will soon be evolving to look different than it has and we will be incorporating new features we hope you will find useful, entertaining and expand your AMC horizons.

You can now promote your topics at your favorite social media site by clicking on the appropriate icon (top upper right of the page) while viewing the topic you wish to promote.


  • March 28, 2024, 12:16:49 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: No brake lights  (Read 5678 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
No brake lights
« on: March 23, 2014, 04:25:14 PM »
So my wife noticed that my new to me 1986 Eagle Limited has no brake lights. All the other lights work, so does the cruise control, rear wiper, etc. Since I need to get it safetied asap, and I can't seem to find the snag, does anyone here know what it could be? Neither side works at all.

I have been tracing and tracking wires, and I did find a broken wire, but it doesn't appear to be the right one.

Offline Mernsy

  • Eagle DL
  • ***
  • Posts: 248
  • Thumbs Up 13
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2014, 05:06:29 PM »
Did you check the switch on the brake pedal? Might be out of whack. Check the fuse, too.

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2014, 05:38:36 PM »
What switch? And do all bulbs have to be in and working for the brake lights to work right?

Offline AMC of Houston

  • The only thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.
  • Global Moderator
  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • *****
  • Posts: 893
  • Thumbs Up 86
    • American Motors Club of Houston
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2014, 06:17:17 PM »
That'd be the brake light switch.  Start at the brake pedal and look upward - you'll see it.  They are a tad troublesome (a Ford design) and easily and cheaply replaced.  And no, all the bulbs don't have to work.
George G.
'81 Eagle Sundancer
'85 Eagle Waggie
1960 1902 Rambler Replica
'64 American
'70 AMX (Big Bad Blue), '70 AMX (White)
'77 Gremlin
'78 Pacer Coupe, '78 Pacer Wagon
'79 Pacer Wagon
'73 Jensen Interceptor
'86 Audi 5000 Turbo
'98 Aston Martin DB7
'09 Nissan Titan
'10 Nissan Maxima

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2014, 06:56:45 PM »
What I see from under the dash is a little switch looking thing that looks like it's vacuum controlled, there is a tube leading into the engine bay. Sort of beside that are 2 separate attachments that have wires leading off of them.

Any pics of what this switch looks like so I know exactly what I'm looking for? Or links?

Edit : Is this what I'm looking for?

« Last Edit: March 23, 2014, 07:08:16 PM by Nightpath »

Offline eaglefreek

  • Moderators
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • *****
  • Posts: 4011
  • Thumbs Up 209
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2014, 07:48:28 PM »
Yes that's it.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky mountain high"  John Denver
Click for Fayetteville,TN Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Offline IowaEagle

  • AMC Eagle Archivist
  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • *****
  • Posts: 31968
  • Thumbs Up 476
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2014, 07:53:22 PM »
The vacuum is for the cruise control shut off switch.
Click for Toledo, IA Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150   


Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline Amc1320

  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 785
  • Thumbs Up 48
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2014, 09:46:05 PM »
Also check the plug that attaches to that switch, I had one where the wire had backed out of the plug and wasn't making a good connection
Rob c
84 Eagle Limited Wagon (driven everyday)
81 Eagle Kammback
81 Spirit (undergoing surgery)
83 Spirit (parts car giving it all to keep the rest going)
Manchester, TN

Offline maddog

  • a long haired redneck country boy
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1805
  • Thumbs Up 45
  • AMC Eagle the original crossover
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2014, 02:25:57 AM »
I would also make sure the plugs aren't melted because when my switch went out it melted the plugs and cooked one of the connectors.
1998 CHEVY S10 (DAILY DRIVER/PROJECT) INTIMIDATIN'
1980 AMC EAGLE WAGON (PROJECT) EAGLE EYES
http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=30758.0
1983 AMC EAGLE LIMITED WAGON-SURVIVOR (gone)
http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=32372.0

Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2014, 05:09:49 PM »
 OK, it is the switch. I can remove it and press on it and it'll work, but it won't work when attached to the pedal for some reason. It seems to be a tad loose and will rotate around a bit.

When I took it off and reinstalled it, the switch was placed over the rod leading into the engine bay. The order which I put it back together is :

nut / rod / plastic washer / hook end of switch / pedal / sleeve (slides into pedal) / plastic washer / bolt


Is this correct?


Offline Nightpath

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 685
  • Thumbs Up 17
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2014, 06:53:22 PM »
That was correct. There is something to watch for though. The rod that slides into the engine bay can rotate, one side is fitted for a small nipple on the brake light switch. If they arent facing eachother than the switch will not work.

Thank goodness I fixed it. One step closer to inspection, but I have no doubt that it'll pass. The few issues it has with it have nothing to do with safety :D

Online vangremlin

  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ******
  • Posts: 4413
  • Thumbs Up 212
Re: No brake lights
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2014, 07:20:13 PM »
Glad that fixed it!  That will be a big relief when you pass your inspection!
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk