Wiring problems?or Short?

I recently bought a 96' Jetta GS 2.0 L, 4 CYL, 4 DR ...Everything on the car is fine except that when I press on the brake the signals light up steady as if replacing the brake lights' function. Also, when I press on the brake and signal, the signal lights do not work. The left signal is fine but the right when engaged makes the rear end look like a disco. The brake lights and signal on the right hand side do a "dance".. Almost a strobe effect.

I changed every single bulb in the vehicle from the license plate bulbs to the headlights to the rear and front turn signal bulbs. ($50 worth of bulbs).... The problem persists.

Could this be a electrical short or maybe bad wiring? I noticed that the left side signal light panel in the rear has different wiring than the right side.

Left side has two wires running parrellel to each other with 4 wires each attached to them.

Right side has to wires running perpendicular to each other with 4 wires attached to one and 2 wires attached to the other.

any suggestions? BTW.. I am a woman so I don't know much about the technical stuff.

Did you pull the electrical connectors out of the tail ligh tsockets. Often they will corrode & cause such problems.

Interesting...

My girlfriend's car just started exhibiting this same problem tonight. I'll check it out further tomorrow.