2003 Venture brake lights

[antonbrn]

Hello everyone,
I have a 2002 Chevrolete Venture and have recently notice the brake lights do not come on, when the brakes are applied. The brake light located on top of the back window comes on, but not the ones on the back taillight area. All other lights work fine (reverse, taillights, turn signal lights). At night the taillights come on, but when the brakes are applied, there is no difference. In the daytime, nothing. I have checked the bulbs, and they are the correct size, and work fine. I also looked at the fuse box on the side of the passenger door. I took out, and replace a 15, where it is labeled STOP LAMP. I could not find anything else that said anything about brakes or stop, etc. on the fuse area. Any suggestions??? Please help.

[cjstew4]

You probably have the infamous taillight short as my '97 did and fixed by the below method short of buying a new circuit card and harness for bad side(s). Your cruise control is probably out as well. Related to this same short. Since it sounds like you can tackle this repair. Here goes:

You'll have to open the tailgate and pull off your rear taillight housing that
should be held on by two star head bolts, but I am not sure of the size. If
you don't have those sockets, then sometimes a flathead screwdriver of the right size can loosen them if they are not too tight. Once off, you will see a
harness with a connector on the end that plugs into the circuit board connector.

You can see how GM designed this so that the water flows right into it. Unplug the connector that has about 5 different colored wires as part of the harness and you will see the shorted black wire in the middle of the connector. That's your problem. A shorter way than mine at this point left by another poster was to drill out the burned black wire/connector section and
screw in a 10 gauge wire in it's place and connect to the opposing harness
ground wire (black one, thicker one).

If you prefer my option which costs about $5, proceed with labeling the harness wires that plug into the circuit board as to their location on the mating plug, cut the plug off the harness, attach connectors to each wire, cut down all 4 sides of the circuit bd plug about 3/8ths to 1/2 inch exposing the 5 pins. Be sure to clean off the shorted middle, thin prong/pin carefully. Attach the mating connector from the location markings you did earlier. Test the brakes, notice that your ABS/TCS dash lights are now out (not lit anymore), and apply weatherproof silicone to the connections so that water, etc cannot collect at the harness or connections. If you need further assistance you can email me at [email protected].

[stano]

Had the similar problem with my 2002 venture. However had not tail lights either and cruise control was out. Replaced the fuse in the box under the hood by the battery and the problem was cured.

[antonbrn]

Originally Posted by stano

Had the similar problem with my 2002 venture. However had not tail lights either and cruise control was out. Replaced the fuse in the box under the hood by the battery and the problem was cured.

Which fuse did you replace?

[antonbrn]

Originally Posted by stano

Had the similar problem with my 2002 venture. However had not tail lights either and cruise control was out. Replaced the fuse in the box under the hood by the battery and the problem was cured.

Thanks for the reply. My cruise control will not work now. Which fuse did you replace. I'm hoping I can just replace a fuse, before I have to start getting to deep into this. Thanks