3rd brake light drama

supertech1979 · October 21, 2012

I was told that I had one bulb out own the 3rd brake light and one license plate light out. Changed out the license plate light out and works fine. Change the bulbs to 3rd brake light and back brake lights stop working. Reground the lights to the frame, and with the 3rd light assembly unhooked the back brakes work. Rehook the 3rd with all new bulbs and no back brake lights again. Take the 3rd back loose, tap brake pedal and rears light up. Ideas? Thoughts?

PS The dome lights which are part of the same assembly work fine.

Carder09 · October 22, 2012

You using the correct bulb? .not calling your judgment but I know my wife's old Nissan had an issue where the manufacturer of the light bulbs had incorrect part numbers so the lights worked like.crap. did some research, got the right part number and everything worked fantastic.

supertech1979 · October 28, 2012

It was the 3rd brake light fixture gone bad. Ordered the led replacement and now all is good.

supertech1979 · October 29, 2012

Ok I was wrong again, it's not fixed. Now when I plug in the led 3rd brake light, my dome light and door lights come on. Although the led 3rd brake light does work correctly when plugged in but it looks like it sending my interior lights into a frenzy. If I disconnect the led then the interior light go back out.

Help!

Is it time to take it to a shop?

I have a multi meter and a test light. I tried the whole test light to battery and pull each fuse until it goes out. No luck.

I don't know enough about the multi meter to use it effectively.

Dirtautoguy · December 24, 2012

The dome lights and cargo lights are on one line. Your 3rd brake lights are on another if you ground it and it works then I would Gus's the switch or wiring the wires should go down under the floor of the driver side with a plastic thing covering it. Check the wires for power and visual problems. My dome light wire had a spot where it got a bulge in the wire so it didn't complete the circuit. Both lines run in the same tape maybe they are shorting out next to each other or something. My bet they were it would be under that driver side plastic thing next to the door.