Hi,
We have a 2007 Corvette that we purchased in January. Just after the purchase, it left me stranded by not wanting to go out of "park." The BCAA guy that came to help said he thought it was the brake switch (I had no brake lights when he checked). Somehow he got it working and I headed back to the dealership.
They said it was the battery, not the brake switch, and replaced the battery. Everything was good until yesterday. We had the top down, and once again it was stuck in park - with no brake lights. We checked all the fuses and they were all fine. It was getting a bit cool out so we put the top back up while we waited for BCAA.
Right after the top was back up, we got the brake lights back on and it went out of park. It had been in to the dealership to have the convertible top adjusted last week (it wouldn't go into a lock position when putting the top down), but I couldn't see how that would be related (they just adjusted it).
My question is, can the brake switch start to go like that and be so intermittent (once in mid-January and once now)? Also, how could putting the top up be related to it?
Thanks for your help in understanding this problem.
Sharon, Delta B.C.
Yes Sharon, it is possible for intermittent problems to manifest themselves with these long breaks in between. And it is frustrating to try to diagnose a problem at a repair shop when the problem is not occurring.
The brake switch is a crucial computer input that is part of a complicated electronic system that affects many other circuits. It's also unfortunate that this sensitive switch is located in the footwell, making it susceptible to dust and dirt accumulation.
If this were almost any other car, I would venture to say that contamination of this switch is the culprit, but the Corvette uses extremely sophisticated circuitry for the braking electronics. It's not as simple as the brake switch turning on the brake lamps - in your case Sharon, the brake switch is an input to the Body Control Module. This module will decide what needs activation or deactivation when the driver has requested brake lamp illumination.
Sorry, but the next steps will be a thorough diagnostic strategy performed by a skilled technician.
It also would not surprise me if you have to leave your Vette with the shop for a while, if this gremlin decides to keep its head down each time you take the car to the shop.