Frequently Asked Questions
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
Short answer: A brake light that stays on after a master-cylinder job is almost always the brake-light switch on the pedal assembly under the dash — it usually just needs a small adjustment so the returning pedal opens the switch. Since tapping the pedal turns the lights off, only a minor adjustment should be needed.
Things to check:
- Pedal return: make sure the pedal return spring is in place. If it is missing, the master cylinder’s internal springs may not push the pedal back far enough.
- Switch adjustment: adjust the plunger/brake-light switch on the pedal assembly forward/down so the raised pedal contacts and opens it; or move the brake pushrod to a higher hole on the pedal if the pedal is not coming up far enough.
If it is the brake warning light on the dash (not the rear brake lights): the issue is the distribution/splitter valve below the master cylinder, usually air in the lines putting it out of balance — bleed the brakes to remove all air.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: On a column-shift automatic, the backup-light switch and the neutral-safety switch are combined in one housing. The purple wires are the neutral-safety circuit; the thinner wires are the backup-light circuit.
To troubleshoot: check for power going into and out of the switch, wiggle the shifter while you test, and jump the connector to confirm the backup bulbs work on their own.
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: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Short answer: Strange tail-light behavior after a bulb change is very often the wrong bulb in the wrong socket — typically a single-filament 1156 installed where a dual-filament 1157 belongs. Swap in the correct bulb and the odd symptoms usually clear up.
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: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
Content last modified: June 9, 2026 at 7:10 am
