1996 Pontiac Firebird Rear lights

Tiny
JACKSON.KEANE
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 28,080 MILES
When the headlights are OFF: my brake, rear indicator, and rear hazard lights all appear to not work. Upon further inspection they seem to come on faintly. Only noticable with you hands cupped over the lights and looking through your hands to block out all exterior light. The front hazards work fine with the headlights off but the indicators merely stay on when a direction is selected on both the dash and the lights themselves. Also the light for the clock on the radio, which normally always remains on, gos out when the brake pedal is pressed and comes back on when released. When the headlights are switched to on the clock light problem dissapears however the rear lights all still fail to function. When the hazards are turned on with the headlights on the front hazards stay on all the time but flash noticably brighter periodically and much slower than normal. Also with the Hazards on, with the headlights on, the MIDDLE break light flashes when the break is pressed but all other lights remain inoperable The radio lights flash with the hazard lights on the dashboard when the headlights are on. Also when you try to switch the headlights to off with the break pedal pressed the headlights themselves go off (pop up headlights) but the motors do not go down until you let off the brakes. Needless to say I am absolutly flabergasted as to the array of problems that happend similtaniously for apparently no reason. Extremly mint low mileage car that was parked in a parking garage as I visited a museum and the car had not gotten wet at all prior to the incident. My car is also a convertible.
Saturday, November 28th, 2009 AT 4:51 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
It's either a defect stop light switch, bad ground, or even low battery, bad alternator, the modules need 9-10 volts to work and charging system should put out 14-15 volts when engine is running. Check with a voltmeter across battery terminals.
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009 AT 7:51 AM
Tiny
JACKSON.KEANE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
How do I check the stop light switch and where is it located? How do I check for a bad ground? All other lights, interior and headlighs work fine, and the car starts with no hesitation so I assume a bad alternator would give me trouble with these aspects also? Some one has mention a "bulds" sensor under the brake pedal itself and the switch for the indicater. Could these also be the problem?
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009 AT 3:27 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/no_brake_lights.htm
https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/no_tail_lights.htm
Click on the top link...
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009 AT 3:37 PM
Tiny
JACKSON.KEANE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for your help. I have an analog multimeter, can I test with it? And if so what setting should I put it at?
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
JACKSON.KEANE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Also if the brake lights are coming on very dim as I described can it even be the switch?
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009 AT 6:07 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
It can. Analog meter will work Put on lowest setting we are working on a 12volt system, With switch in off or rest position, it should have infinite or O/L reading, applied brakes it should have zero ohms, remove electrical connector and test terminals of the switch, then test the power of the wire to the switch, 12Volts? Test orange wire for 12v. Can also be the mulifunction switch, did you follow the two links?
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Monday, November 30th, 2009 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
JACKSON.KEANE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ok so there are 2 switches attached to the brake pedal. One with 6 terminals that I can easily get at and is getting power through the switch as far as I can tell. The 4 back terminals always show power and one front does before the brakes are applied and one after. The other switch is burried under a mess of wireing and it cannot be reached with the multimeter. It has only 2 terminals. Which is the switch I am looking for? If I know which switch is the problem I will just replace it as I do not think I understand how to use the multimeter correctly. I followed the links but the end result was that I do not know which is the correct switch. Im guessing the multifuntion switch your referring to is the 6 terminal one?
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 AT 3:13 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
You want the switch with orange and lt blue wires.
The multifunction switch is on the steering column, it has the blinkers, cruise control built into it.
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 AT 3:14 PM

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