QuestionHello Van,
I did use a test light besides a voltmeter to check the lights. I tried a new fuse and wiggling the turn signal lever as you suggested, no luck so far. I have traced the two brake wires to a large terminal block under the dash, and I'm pretty sure there is something interrupting the voltage to the one brake light. Because, with the bulb out I have voltage but with the bulb installed in the socket, there is no voltage, at least on the one side, so the light is draining the little bit that is there. There is a separate feed for the left and right brake light, so it must be some point, maybe a relay, or something where they are fed from, especially since the passenger side works fine. I haven't picked up a flasher yet, but the question is; do brake light wires go through a flaher?
Don
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Followup To
Question -
the drivers side brake light does not work.I have changed the bulb, double checked it's working with the other side and checked for voltage. There is 12 volts at the proper terminal in the light socket when the brakes are applied but no light. The ground connection is good; even if I jumper the light to ground it won't work.I think there is a broken wire or bad connection somewhere ahead of the socket and while I'm getting a voltage reading on my meter, there is not enough amp capacity to power the light. The 4-way flasher feeds the same terminal in the light socket and it works. Each brake light, left and right side are fed from separate wires down each side of the car. Any idea's? I'm thinking maybe the brake light switch has a bad contact; there are two wires coming from it. Or like I said, a broken wire somewhere.
Thanks in advance!!
don
Answer -
Hi Don,
I sympathize with your problem. I had a set of backup lights once that wouldn't work with the bulbs in, but had voltage with the bulbs out.
The fuse showed continuity with an ohm meter, but if the bulbs were in, the protected side did NOT show power. With the bulbs out, it did.
It was a glass tube type fuse.
What I found was just like you say.
Upon close scrutiny, the filament, if that's what it is called, inside the fuse, as power was applied, and the bulbs tried to illuminate, that fuse filament would heat, and curl like a bi-metal flasher, and break contact. But with the bulbs removed, it would cool, and settle back together, and show voltage.
I gurantee....it about had me pulling my hair out.
Now...on a 99, you will have the spade type fuses, but try replacing it.
Then replace the flasher. it might be having an effect on that system, since the stop light, and the signal use the same bulb.
And I assume you used a jumper wire to jump the bulb socket to a good ground? Maybe use a test light to see if it illuminates from the socket to ground.
I would also wiggle the turn signal lever, and all the wire connections going from it to the tail lights.
Van
AnswerNo...the brake lights don't go thru the flasher, or they would blink when applied.
But they do go thru the turn signal switch, which could have a bad contact.
The emergency flashers may also use the same bulb, and therefore, a bad contact in that switch is also a possibility.
The block where the wires pass through the firewall is another place where a loose connection can exist.
Van
