brake light problem
X2Xtreme360
12-21-2006, 10:11 PM
I replaced all of my brake lights today (4 brake, 2 turn signal). On the driver side, one of the brake lights doesn't work at all when the brake is depressed. The lights are supposed to be dim with the lights on with one filiment working and when the brakes are depressed the other filiment is brighter, hense the brake lights. Well, when the brake is depressed, the filiment that's supposed to stay on at all times (the dim one) also goes out so the one bulb just goes out completely. I tested other bulbs and they all do the same thing. What could the problem be? A faulty socket?
jason_bet
12-22-2006, 04:23 AM
follow the black wire that comes out from that section and make sure it has a good ground.
Igovert500
12-22-2006, 03:16 PM
If you have a multimeter, check the resistance of hte ground, and hte voltage of the other wire(s) on teh known working light. Check for the same voltages and resistances on the broken light. Find your problematic wire. Figure out if it's just a bad ground, broken wire, short to ground, loose wire, etc.
edit, I'm checkin out the manual right now, see if i can find a diagram.
edit #2: Service manual didn't help much. I'm agreeing with jason though. Most likely a ground wire problem. Obviously, if hte other light works, the problem is after the wiring splits for hte 2 lights. Now if the one filament works, then you know that most of the systems works. All you have to figure out is what changes when the next filament is supposed to light up. How is the circuit changed? Because if the original filament goes out, you probably lose the ground. Trace the wire, wiggle it a bit, etc.
edit, I'm checkin out the manual right now, see if i can find a diagram.
edit #2: Service manual didn't help much. I'm agreeing with jason though. Most likely a ground wire problem. Obviously, if hte other light works, the problem is after the wiring splits for hte 2 lights. Now if the one filament works, then you know that most of the systems works. All you have to figure out is what changes when the next filament is supposed to light up. How is the circuit changed? Because if the original filament goes out, you probably lose the ground. Trace the wire, wiggle it a bit, etc.
X2Xtreme360
12-22-2006, 09:29 PM
Thanks fopr all your help. Yea the manual doesn't help at all. I briefly looked at it today but didn't have much time. Do you know where the ground wire goes back to? I think i'll have to remove the panel in the trunk where the antenna motor is located, but I'm not sure wherer it ends.
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