Topic: Anyone in here know electrical systems?

[Clark Kent]

In aprticular, for cars.   Recently, it was brought to my attention that my brake lights in my 95 cutlass supreme weren't working properly.  The tail lights light up as they should.  The signal lights also work perfectly.  However, when I brake, the tail lights won't light up at all, unless of course I already have all the other lights on, and in that case the tail lights don't show any change.  The center brake light, however, located in the rear window works just fing, but I'm sure that light isn't enough to keep me from getting a ticket.
I'm confused as to why these lights seem to be working perfectly, except when breaking.  Any ideas?
oh, to reiterate, I have three lights when braking- the two tail lights and the on in the center of my rear window.  The one in the rear wondow works, the two tail lights don't when braking.

C.K.

P.S.  I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian Ladies as well...

[Iceman]

It's probably a dead bulb. Check it out from inside the trunk, you can most likely access the assembly from there. After that its just guess work. Have a buddy hit the brakes to find out which one it is, (comparing the two sides that is) and replace the bulb. Don't go to a shop for it, spend the $3-$5 and try the simple solution yourself. Besides, it's fun. Just make sure you take note of how everything fits together before you start ripping things apart.  

[Clark Kent]

I looked at all the bulbs, they're good, all four in the tail lights.  Also tried replacing the flasher fuse, no go.  It's a little frustrating.

CK

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian Ladies as well...

[ferretlxix]

You replaced the flasher fuse right? Is the problem in you brake light?
Try replacing you brake light first and then try replacing the fuse related to the light.
If I'm in error I apologize.

[The Postman]

If it were not for the center bulb working, I would look at the brake light switch behind the pedal. However since you state the center bulb does work and all bulbs are good and the tail lights work, check to see if if the lower brake cicuit is getting power with a circuit tester. The top center is protected by diodes so that it does not cross feed the other bulbs when directionals or 4-ways are used. Is there a trailer plug as well? The problem may lie at the connections between the vehicle and trailer harness. I am willing to bet that the wires bringing the power to the back for the lower brake lights is broken, frayed or disconnected at a plug.  

[Clark Kent]

Quote:
If it were not for the center bulb working, I would look at the brake light switch behind the pedal. However since you state the center bulb does work and all bulbs are good and the tale lights work, check to see if if the lower brake cicuit is getting power with a circuit tester. The top center is protected by diodes so that it does not cross feed the other bulbs when directionals or 4-ways are used. Is there a trailer plug as well? The problem may lie at the connections between the vehicle and trailer harness. I am willing to bet that the wires bringing the power to the back for the lower brake lights is broken, frayed or disconnected at a plug.    

I don't have a hitch, so that can't be it.  It's getting dark out now, so i'll have to wait till tomorrow, but when the morning comes I'll try to find the lower brake circuit and check the wires around it.  Thanks very much,

CK

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[JMM]

Clark, it's all about diagnosing before you go buy stuff. Go to Sears and buy an electrical probe, a good one, not el cheapo, then have family or friend press the brake pedal while you check the connection on your brake lights, if the probe lights up, you got power, and is probably a switch or relay problem. if no power is going through then you have a short somewhere, and you need trace your electrical lines back from the lights to the source. I know on imports they like to cram all the wiring that powers stuff to the rear under the plastic interior floorboard by the seats.

One of the posters was correct, your car (every vehicle) has a brake light switch, though I'm curious as to why your center light works and the others do not. Cars are wired funny nowadays though due to insulation and different non-metallic materials being used.

First and foremost b4 you do anything electrical, check the fusebox! You would be shocked at how many people do not do that and end up getting milked by the service people.

I highly recommend you buy a Haynes manual on your car, study and learn, and you will save hundreds, if not thousands on car repairs, all it takes is time, patience, and the right tools.

Haynes also has an awesome electrical diagnosing and repair manual, you will find these books at your local auto aftermarket parts stores. Avg cost? 12-15 bucks a book! Yes, they have step by step instructions, and photos, no stupid diagrams, though with electrical stuff diagrams are the standard, but think of it like map reading, it's easy once you start tracing all this stuff and see it physically.  

[Clark Kent]

Thanks, it's difficult for me to diagnose, though, since electrical wires and boxes are all over my car, and it's extremely difficult ot trace things when you're as blind to this as I am.  I wanted to avoid an elcrtical probe, if possible, since I don't have alot of money to be throwing around, but que sera, sera.  Getting help will be difficult, though.  I've been through the fuse box as well, and all the fuses look good.
Sadly, everytime I take my car in I have to fear the possibility of someone takign complete advantage of me and charging me up the yin yang for work that's not necessary.  If I had a garage to work with I would be able to do much more, but my mom and dad have it filled with crap they haven't even looked at in a decade, and will never use again, so it's just something that's never gonna happen so long as I live here.  I really need to get out on my own again,

CK  

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[Clark Kent]

Well, after much fiddling around, and finding nothing wrong, I ended up talking to a guy I know, and we messed around a bit and found that when I messed with the broken hazard lights button, the brake lights worked properly.  This signaled to me that the problem was somewhere in the steering column, or nearby, and not in the wiring near the tail lights.  Of course, I could still be wrong since I can't get the brake lights to light up properly this afternoon again...

CK

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[Clark Kent]

In aprticular, for cars.   Recently, it was brought to my attention that my brake lights in my 95 cutlass supreme weren't working properly.  The tail lights light up as they should.  The signal lights also work perfectly.  However, when I brake, the tail lights won't light up at all, unless of course I already have all the other lights on, and in that case the tail lights don't show any change.  The center brake light, however, located in the rear window works just fing, but I'm sure that light isn't enough to keep me from getting a ticket.
I'm confused as to why these lights seem to be working perfectly, except when breaking.  Any ideas?
oh, to reiterate, I have three lights when braking- the two tail lights and the on in the center of my rear window.  The one in the rear wondow works, the two tail lights don't when braking.

C.K.

P.S.  I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian Ladies as well...

[Iceman]

It's probably a dead bulb. Check it out from inside the trunk, you can most likely access the assembly from there. After that its just guess work. Have a buddy hit the brakes to find out which one it is, (comparing the two sides that is) and replace the bulb. Don't go to a shop for it, spend the $3-$5 and try the simple solution yourself. Besides, it's fun. Just make sure you take note of how everything fits together before you start ripping things apart.  

[Clark Kent]

I looked at all the bulbs, they're good, all four in the tail lights.  Also tried replacing the flasher fuse, no go.  It's a little frustrating.

CK

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian Ladies as well...

[ferretlxix]

You replaced the flasher fuse right? Is the problem in you brake light?
Try replacing you brake light first and then try replacing the fuse related to the light.
If I'm in error I apologize.

[The Postman]

If it were not for the center bulb working, I would look at the brake light switch behind the pedal. However since you state the center bulb does work and all bulbs are good and the tail lights work, check to see if if the lower brake cicuit is getting power with a circuit tester. The top center is protected by diodes so that it does not cross feed the other bulbs when directionals or 4-ways are used. Is there a trailer plug as well? The problem may lie at the connections between the vehicle and trailer harness. I am willing to bet that the wires bringing the power to the back for the lower brake lights is broken, frayed or disconnected at a plug.  

[Clark Kent]

Quote:
If it were not for the center bulb working, I would look at the brake light switch behind the pedal. However since you state the center bulb does work and all bulbs are good and the tale lights work, check to see if if the lower brake cicuit is getting power with a circuit tester. The top center is protected by diodes so that it does not cross feed the other bulbs when directionals or 4-ways are used. Is there a trailer plug as well? The problem may lie at the connections between the vehicle and trailer harness. I am willing to bet that the wires bringing the power to the back for the lower brake lights is broken, frayed or disconnected at a plug.    

I don't have a hitch, so that can't be it.  It's getting dark out now, so i'll have to wait till tomorrow, but when the morning comes I'll try to find the lower brake circuit and check the wires around it.  Thanks very much,

CK

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[JMM]

Clark, it's all about diagnosing before you go buy stuff. Go to Sears and buy an electrical probe, a good one, not el cheapo, then have family or friend press the brake pedal while you check the connection on your brake lights, if the probe lights up, you got power, and is probably a switch or relay problem. if no power is going through then you have a short somewhere, and you need trace your electrical lines back from the lights to the source. I know on imports they like to cram all the wiring that powers stuff to the rear under the plastic interior floorboard by the seats.

One of the posters was correct, your car (every vehicle) has a brake light switch, though I'm curious as to why your center light works and the others do not. Cars are wired funny nowadays though due to insulation and different non-metallic materials being used.

First and foremost b4 you do anything electrical, check the fusebox! You would be shocked at how many people do not do that and end up getting milked by the service people.

I highly recommend you buy a Haynes manual on your car, study and learn, and you will save hundreds, if not thousands on car repairs, all it takes is time, patience, and the right tools.

Haynes also has an awesome electrical diagnosing and repair manual, you will find these books at your local auto aftermarket parts stores. Avg cost? 12-15 bucks a book! Yes, they have step by step instructions, and photos, no stupid diagrams, though with electrical stuff diagrams are the standard, but think of it like map reading, it's easy once you start tracing all this stuff and see it physically.  

[Clark Kent]

Thanks, it's difficult for me to diagnose, though, since electrical wires and boxes are all over my car, and it's extremely difficult ot trace things when you're as blind to this as I am.  I wanted to avoid an elcrtical probe, if possible, since I don't have alot of money to be throwing around, but que sera, sera.  Getting help will be difficult, though.  I've been through the fuse box as well, and all the fuses look good.
Sadly, everytime I take my car in I have to fear the possibility of someone takign complete advantage of me and charging me up the yin yang for work that's not necessary.  If I had a garage to work with I would be able to do much more, but my mom and dad have it filled with crap they haven't even looked at in a decade, and will never use again, so it's just something that's never gonna happen so long as I live here.  I really need to get out on my own again,

CK  

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[Clark Kent]

Well, after much fiddling around, and finding nothing wrong, I ended up talking to a guy I know, and we messed around a bit and found that when I messed with the broken hazard lights button, the brake lights worked properly.  This signaled to me that the problem was somewhere in the steering column, or nearby, and not in the wiring near the tail lights.  Of course, I could still be wrong since I can't get the brake lights to light up properly this afternoon again...

CK

P.S.  I like Latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[Clark Kent]

In aprticular, for cars.   Recently, it was brought to my attention that my brake lights in my 95 cutlass supreme weren't working properly.  The tail lights light up as they should.  The signal lights also work perfectly.  However, when I brake, the tail lights won't light up at all, unless of course I already have all the other lights on, and in that case the tail lights don't show any change.  The center brake light, however, located in the rear window works just fing, but I'm sure that light isn't enough to keep me from getting a ticket.
I'm confused as to why these lights seem to be working perfectly, except when breaking.  Any ideas?
oh, to reiterate, I have three lights when braking- the two tail lights and the on in the center of my rear window.  The one in the rear wondow works, the two tail lights don't when braking.

C.K.

P.S.  I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian Ladies as well...

[Iceman]

It's probably a dead bulb. Check it out from inside the trunk, you can most likely access the assembly from there. After that its just guess work. Have a buddy hit the brakes to find out which one it is, (comparing the two sides that is) and replace the bulb. Don't go to a shop for it, spend the $3-$5 and try the simple solution yourself. Besides, it's fun. Just make sure you take note of how everything fits together before you start ripping things apart.