How to Troubleshoot Brake & Turn Signal Light Problems on a 1988 Chevy

Troubleshooting the brake lights and turn signals on any vehicle means checking for three main causes for their failure: loose connectors, old bulbs and broken fuses. In 1988, Chevrolet marketed 18 different nameplates, ranging from compact cars to SUVs. Despite the variety of vehicles, the troubleshooting process for the turn signals or brake lights is identical for all of them. The differences lie in how to access the bulbs, the number and location of certain screws, and the locations of the fuses.

Things You'll Need

• Clean gloves
• Phillips screwdriver
• Torx screwdriver
• Replacement bulb
• Replacement fuse

Instructions

Cars

1. Park the vehicle and put on the gloves. Turn off the engine and open the hood.

2. Locate the fuse box on the driver's side of the vehicle. Remove the cover and locate the fuses labeled "PARK LP" and "STOP LP." If either fuse is broken, remove it from the vehicle and replace it with a new 15A fuse. A fuse is broken if the metal inside is broken. Place the cover on the fuse box.

3. Remove the turn signal socket on the headlight assembly by rotating the lock ring clockwise. Pull the ring off the socket and pull the socket out of the assembly. Pull the old bulb out and replace it with a new 2357NA bulb. Place the socket back into the assembly. Make sure the socket is securely connected to the assembly and reattach the lock ring. Close the hood.

4. Open the trunk and remove the carpet from the trunk. Rotate the two wing nuts securing the taillight assembly cover and remove the cover. Pull on the electrical connector. Secure it if it comes loose. Remove the desired bulb socket by rotating it counterclockwise. The brake light socket is the middle socket. The turn signal socket is the top socket.

5. Pull the old bulb out of the socket and replace it with a new 2057 bulb. Both sockets take 2057 bulbs. Place the socket back into the assembly and reattach the two wing nuts. Place the carpet back into the trunk and close the trunk lid.

SUVs/Vans

1. Park the vehicle and put on gloves. Turn off the engine and open the hood.

2. Locate the fuse box on the driver's side of the vehicle. Remove the cover and locate the fuses labeled "Turn Lmp." and "Back U/O" If either fuse is broken, remove it from the vehicle and replace it with a new 20A fuse. A fuse is broken if the metal inside is broken. Place the cover on the fuse box.

3. Remove the four Torxhead screws from the headlight bezel and pull the bezel out of the vehicle. Make sure the electrical connector is securely plugged into the rear of the assembly. Press the tab and turn the turn signal socket to the left to remove it from the bezel. Pull out the old bulb and replace it with a new 2057 bulb. Place the socket back into the bezel and the bezel back into the vehicle. Reattach the four screws and close the hood.

4. Open the rear door and remove the two screws behind the door in order to access the taillight assembly. Pull the assembly out of the vehicle and make sure the connector is secured to the assembly.

5. Press the tab and rotate the desired socket to the left to remove it from the assembly. The top socket contains the turn signal light and the bottom socket contains the brake light. Replace either bulb with a 2057 type bulb and place the socket back into the assembly. Place the assembly into the vehicle and reattach the two screws. Close the hood.

Trucks

1. Park the vehicle and put on the gloves. Turn off the engine and open the hood.

2. Locate the fuse box on the driver's side of the vehicle. Remove the cover and locate the fuses labeled "Stop Lmp" and "Turn Sgn" If either fuse is broken, remove it from the vehicle and replace it with a new 15A fuse. A fuse is broken if the metal inside is broken. Place the cover on the fuse box.

3. Remove the headlamp assembly by removing the two pins atop the headlamp assembly. Pull the assembly out of the vehicle and make sure the electrical connector is secured to the assembly. Remove the turn signal socket by rotating it counterclockwise and pull the old bulb out of the socket. Install a new 2057 bulb and place the socket back into the assembly. Place the assembly back into the vehicle, reattach the two pins, and close the hood.

4. Open the tailgate and use a screwdriver to remove the two screws on the inboard side of the vehicle behind the taillamp assembly. Pull the assembly out and make sure the connector is secured to the rear of the assembly. Rotate the desired bulb socket and remove it from the assembly. The bottom socket contains the brake bulb and the top socket contains the turn signal bulb.

5. Replace the bulb with a 2057 bulb and place the socket back into the assembly. Place the assembly back into the vehicle, reinstall the two screws and close the hood.

References

• "1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Manual"; General Motors Corporation; 1987
• "1988 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual"; General Motors Corporation; 1987
• "1988 Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual"; General Motors Corporation; 1987
• "1988 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Owner Manual"; General Motors Corporation; 1987