c2 parking alarm light

[Ray M.]

my parking brake alarm stop working and I am thinking it might be the bulb. What is the procedure to pull the cluster out far enough to access the light socket. Do I need to disconnect the tach and speedo cable along with the oil sending line to pull the cluster out far enough to get my finger to it. I tried from under the dash cant get my hand in far enough and I just last year restored the cluster and don't want to pull it all the way out again.

[Bob R.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

Remove the 5 Phillips head screws holding the cluster in place one at a time and replace them with a 5" long piece of threaded rod or just use longer bolts. You may have to release and drop the steering column to gain a little more room and pull the cluster out. You can only pull it out about 2" but that should be enough to replace that bulb.

[Ray M.]

[Bob R.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

There should be enough slack in the cables and oil line to pull the cluster out enough to get at the light bulb, you might want to try a little gentle persuasion something might be hung up. The speedo and tach cables are really not that difficult to disconnect but the oil line is a real pain to disconnect and re connect so that would a last resort to remove.

[Ray M.]

[Harry S.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

Ray,

As a quick test take the wires off the switch and connect them together. If the light comes on it's not the bulb it's probably the switch.

[Ray M.]

[Ray M.]

[Harry S.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

I was thinking 63 switch. I'll assume when you engage the parking brake the switch completes the ground. Pull the wire and ground it. turn the key to run and see what happens. What does the wiring diagram show in the AIM and/or shop manual.

I just pulled the cluster on my 63 to fix the tach. I needed to pull he seat and steering column before I started disconnecting wires, etc.

[Ray M.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

On the 66 there is only one wire to the switch and when the parking brake is engaged it completes the ground. IThe diagram shows a tan wire from the switch to the lightbulb socket and then a pink wire to the fuse box I assume.

[Bob R.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

You do not have to remove it you can disconnect the fasteners under the dash and it should drop down a few inches.

[Ray M.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

Got the bulb out and it was burnt. It was a new bulb.Just changed all the bulbs on my restore even though the 55 yr old bulbs worked. Hope the others stay lit.
Thanks

[John F.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

Ray, what all did you pull or disconnect to get to the bulb? My parking brake light just stays on when pulled and does not flash. The headlamp bulb next to it does not light at all. Did you take pictures during disassembly?

[Ray M.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

No pic just removed the 5 philips screws dropping the steering column and carefully pulled the cluster away toward steering wheel. You then pull the top enough to get your fingers in. Long skinny fingers works best here. Little struggle but it can be done. Make sure your bulbs are no 257 for flashing. Change them both while you are at it.

[Bob R.]

Re: c2 parking alarm light

If the existing bulb is not flashing but is on you have the wrong bulb installed. There was a vendor selling correct made in America bulbs for this use on eBay a while ago and I bought a couple of them. Type in the bulb number because he has it listed for a different application and not Corvette. Some of the made in China reproduction bulbs being sold by the usual vendors do not last very long and it is so difficult to change I wanted to make sure I used the best bulb I could find.