Problem with Brake and Signal light

[MontanaUser]

I got a 2001 Montana and having an issue with the brake light and signal light. Somehow, it seems like both lights are connected together. When I turn on the right signal light or step on the brake; Right side of signal and brake light start flashing. But the left side are OK. Also the signal indicate on the dashboard are lighted as well. Do anyone have any idea what went wrong?... thanks

[NiteOwl]

Check the ground.

[atent]

I have the same problem except it is the left turn signal that acts up
I also have a problem with the fuel level sender. It reads full all the time which would be nice it it was correct. I beat on the gas tank the first time it happened and it cured the problem for a few weeks but it has returned and no amount of beating seems to help.

[atent]

I forgot to mention in the previous post that the last time I had a problem with the turn signal I removed the flasher unit and reinserted it. Problem went away.

[MontanaUser]

I have reinserted the flasher, it seems like it is working now. Thanks for all the help

[sambop]

I have had a problem on my 2002 Pontiac Montana with both my left and right tail light and turn signal. All four bulbs start blinking when the turn signal is on (with the ignition off, it works fine. I think i has to do with the tail lights being on when the turn signal is on). Also, the turn light indicators in the van sometimes light dimly when the brake is applied. I tried replacing all of the bulbs, but it didn't help. The first time this happened, the dealer replaced my tail light unit for over $200 (they called it a circuit on the receipt). The second time, I took it apart myself. A friend of mine had the same problem and said it was due to a short/burn where the plug goes into the tail light fixture. If you unplug it, look for burned prongs. Mine was the female portion of the prong that was burned. I took some stranded electrical wire, twisted just enough together to almost completely fill the hole, stuck it as far as I could into the hole, then cut it off and bent it over (only about 1/16th of an inch). I plugged the fixture back into the plug, and it works fine. If it quicks working again, I'm going to cut the plug off and solder the wires directly onto the prongs. They will charge you over $100 just for the part! It should be a recall!

[shogunl]

What you are experiencing is short within the circuit assembley. You will get that until you replace the entire unit. There is TSB for it from GM for it. I had replace 2 of mine because of it. They are not cheap, I got mine at the wrecker for $100 each, If you get it from a wrecker try to get 02 or newer or you will run into same problem down the road.
Like I said before take a good look at the all Montanas/Transport/Ventures and see how many have one side of brake lights that doesn't work because of this issue you might be suprised. Safty issue in my opinion.

[gls02]

Sambop, if you are refering to the tail light circuit boards, they sell "new" boards on ebay for around $30.00. Zbra28 is the seller, then do a search.

[RCmitch99]

I would like to thank all of you for helping us figure out what was wrong with the tail lights on our family van(99 Pontiac Montana.) My wife was driving around with just about all the lights flashing in the back. When she had the left directional on and the brake on at the same time, the reverse lights came on and the ABS dash light came on and sometimes the directional would start flashing really fast. She drives around with our three kids and the situation surely was unsafe.
After checking the tail light plug for damage (like SAMPOP suggested,)YES, they were melted and smelled like a vaccum cleaner belt was burning inside! THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH CURRENT RUNNING THROUGH THAT LITTLE CONNECTOR !!(ESPECIALLY THE BLACK WIRE)!!! The black wire is common to all the bulbs. The size of the connector tabs are way too small. Yes, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL.
First, I removed all the bulbs and then used my voltmeter to determined that the black wire was connected to the biggest piece of metal inside the tailight assembly. I drilled a 3/8" hole in the black plastic on the backside (opposite the bulb side) of the tail light assembly, found a hole already in the metal, crimped a 14 ga wire to a round terminal fitting and screwed it into the existing hole in the largest strip of metal inside. Next, I cut the black wire coming out of the factory harness and but-spliced all three wires together. This allowed some of the black wire's current to run through the additional wire as well as the burnt connector.
Well, anyway, if it weren't for your help I do not know what we would have done.

Thanks.

[1999montana]

Filling up with gas last night, the person behind me pointed out that my top/left brake light was out.

This morning I pulled the assembly out to have a look at the circuit board to ensure it was not the root cause. Pulled the right side off too.

I noticed that the top bulbs on both sides appear to be heat-scourched.

Fortunately I had a complete taillight housing and circuit board for the right side (long story, - don't go there!).

The circuit board and TL in the right side is 6 years new, but the base of each top bulb was starting to look a little charred, almost a green color, so I replaced the top bulb on the right with the bottom one from the left side and used the spare circuit board to replace the left circuit board/bulbs (as an assembly).

I noticed that they are interchangeable, but you have to drill out the mounting stud hole for the left side as it is 'blanked out' on the right (and vise versa). Covered the 'dummy' hole with electrical tape on the inside and out side of the hole to make it water tight (I hope).

Took both lens housings in the house and washed them inside and out with 'Fantastic' cleaner and a car brush, then placed them in the oven at 180 degrees for about a 1/2 hour to dry them out.

Worked like a charm.

Now I know what bulbs to replace if they go south again.

I wonder why the top bulbs get so hot?

Anyone?
.

[Judysvan]

Same problem here, but no sign of overheated bulbs, or corrosion on metal connectors in the bulb socket (99 Maintaina). How do I get to the circuit without tearing apart the uni-piece bulb hoder ??

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by Judysvan

Same problem here, but no sign of overheated bulbs, or corrosion on metal connectors in the bulb socket (99 Maintaina). How do I get to the circuit without tearing apart the uni-piece bulb hoder ??

I'm not sure you can take the holder apart. I haven't tried, but like most things on these vans if it isn't working, it doesn't hurt to TRY and take it apart and perhaps break it in the process.

'Not serviceable' is another way of sometimes saying, '...it can be taken apart, but the cost is more than replacing it with a new one...'.

My view is that if I have a Saturday and nothing to do (ya, like that happens!) why not spend an hour or two and see if you can make it work again by disassembling and repairing any obvious damage?

How much further ahead or behind by trying would you be?
.

[faisalmali]

Originally Posted by RCmitch99

I would like to thank all of you for helping us figure out what was wrong with the tail lights on our family van(99 Pontiac Montana.) My wife was driving around with just about all the lights flashing in the back. When she had the left directional on and the brake on at the same time, the reverse lights came on and the ABS dash light came on and sometimes the directional would start flashing really fast. She drives around with our three kids and the situation surely was unsafe.
After checking the tail light plug for damage (like SAMPOP suggested,)YES, they were melted and smelled like a vaccum cleaner belt was burning inside! THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH CURRENT RUNNING THROUGH THAT LITTLE CONNECTOR !!(ESPECIALLY THE BLACK WIRE)!!! The black wire is common to all the bulbs. The size of the connector tabs are way too small. Yes, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL.
First, I removed all the bulbs and then used my voltmeter to determined that the black wire was connected to the biggest piece of metal inside the tailight assembly. I drilled a 3/8" hole in the black plastic on the backside (opposite the bulb side) of the tail light assembly, found a hole already in the metal, crimped a 14 ga wire to a round terminal fitting and screwed it into the existing hole in the largest strip of metal inside. Next, I cut the black wire coming out of the factory harness and but-spliced all three wires together. This allowed some of the black wire's current to run through the additional wire as well as the burnt connector.
Well, anyway, if it weren't for your help I do not know what we would have done.

Thanks.

Hi, same problem here. I tried this fix but to no avail. Is it working for you?

Anyone else has other suggestions?

[Fred Klintworth]

I recall having a similar problem (ABS light illuminating on dash, some other dash message/illumination, dim tail lights, faulty blinkers) on my wife's 2001 Montana about 6 months ago. Traced problem to passenger side rear taillight connector. One of the wires in the connector was charred at the connector. Fixed by removing female portion of wiring harness (by removing plastic cover over jack storage area, cargo area, passenger side) to get at it. Removed the charred female electrical socket from connector (this was tricky -- used tiny flat head screwdriver and kept pulling on wire till it came out) . Replaced with new one (had one of these in my old wires box) by cutting off old wire with charred connector and splicing new wire into wiring harness. After reassembling the unit has worked fine since. Hope this will help someone else.

[faisalmali]

I ended up doing the fix (black wire directly connected to the big metal piece in the assembly) for the other side also (passenger) - the connector there was also burnt. So far so good........

Thanks for the help.