How to fix passenger side rear brake/turn signal?

Tiny
XDARYLNCX
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
  • 185,000 MILES
All turn signals work except passenger side (P/S). Brake lights work except P/S. Hazards work except passenger side. All tail lights work including P/S. Replaced bulb with correct bulb, replaced wiring harness. Still not working whats next?
Monday, April 2nd, 2012 AT 6:47 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,908 POSTS
Are you saying the front and rear signals don't work on that side or just the rear?
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Monday, April 2nd, 2012 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
XDARYLNCX
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Just the passenger rear doesn't work. Its a dual bulb. The tail light part of the bulb lights when the lights are on but the second part of the light that lights with brake, turn signal or hazard does not. Ive change the bulbs and the harness. Ive even checked the bulbs and harness and both worked when plugged into the drivers side.
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Monday, April 2nd, 2012 AT 7:50 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,908 POSTS
When just that one half of the bulb doesn't work, and the same part is for the signal and brake light, it's usually a problem in the turn signals switch. The brake light circuit goes through the signal switch so that circuit can be turned off, and the bulb is activated only by the signal flasher when you turn on the right signals.

The signal switch, (also called the multifunction switch), on your car is not a very high-failure item so I would be comfortable sending you to a salvage yard for a used one. If you have a pick-your-own-parts yard nearby, you can remove the used one first to see what's involved. They typically come out after removing some plastic covers and only two or three screws.

If you would rather do some testing first to verify the switch is the likely suspect, you'll need a test light or digital voltmeter. If you can't figure out which wire color to test for voltage, I do have the DVD for your car but my DVD player won't open so I'll have to hook up a different computer.

You can either start at the rear socket and work your way forward to see if there's a break in the wire, or you can start at the signal switch, then, if you do have voltage there, you can work your way backward toward the bulb to find where you lose voltage.
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Monday, April 2nd, 2012 AT 8:28 PM

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