Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions for First Generation Firebirds that have been asked and answered on FGF. Special thanks needs to be given to all the FGF members who took the time to respond to other member's questions.
Body - Rear Bumper and Tail Lights
Q: How do I hook up my reverse lights
I have a question regarding my car’s backup lights… I have a coulumn shift automatic, and I am unsure which switch is connected to the backup lights. All I know is that they do not work. My neutral safety switch does work though. If anyone has a diagram, or some pictures of where this switch is, please send them to me. Thanks
A: They are both in the same switch housing, the purple wires are the neutral safety, the thinner wires (I forget the colors) are the back-up connection. Check power in and out, wiggle the shifter while you do that. Jump the connector to see if the BU lights actually work!
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Content last modified: January 5, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Q: Brake Lights Stay On
I have an annoying problem: I changed my master cylinder due to a leak. The operation was a complete success, with no extra parts left over! When I drive the car, and then stop, my brake lights are on. I’ll tap them, they go out and stay out. What’s up?
A: Two possibilities. There is a return spring on the peddal and if it came off for some reason while you were replacing the master cylinder (or maybe it wasn’t on from before) then you are relying on the internal springs of the master cylinder to push your pedal all the way back and not quite making it.
The other possiblility is that you just have to adjust the switch a little bit forward. It’s on the peddal assembly under the dash.
A: It’s probably the plunger switch down under your dash.
A: Have you checked your brake light switch on the pedal assembly? There is a switch under the dash that turns the lights on until the brake pedal come up high enough to contact the switch and interrupt the circuit. You will either need to adjust the switch down a bit to insure contact with the brake pedal, or you may need to move the brake pushrod to a higher hole on the brake pedal if the pedal isn’t coming up far enough to touch the switch.
My guess is that since you can get the brake lights to go off by taping the pedal, it will require only a small adjustment of the switch to make things right.
A: Are you talking about the brake lights on the back of the car or the brake warning light on the dash? Others have addressed the brake lights on the back so I won’t go there. If it’s the brake warning light then the problem is in you splitter valve below the master cylinder. Most likely, it air in the line causing it to go out of balance. If this is the case, you must bleed the brakes again to remove all air from the lines.
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Content last modified: January 5, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Q: Rear Tail Light Problem
I am having a lot of problems with my tail lights. All the problems started after one of my bulbs burnt out and I tried to replace them. Any ideas?
A: I guess I better go back to lightbulb school, or get glasses. I did not realize that the wrong bulb in the wrong socket would make the light do so many weird things. But as always, thanks to your suggestions, I solved it half way through ripping th dash apart.
A: Let me guess, you found an 1156 single where an 1157 double filament should have been?
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: January 5, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Content last modified: September 15, 2023 at 11:15 am