brake light fuse burning

[78sc]

Hi all,

Figured I'd ask folks if they'd ever experienced this before I go digging around in my wiring. Out of the blue one day, I noticed I had no brake lights...found burned out fuse and replaced. Drive car, and surprise, no brake lights again (the same burned fuse). Found out that whenever I put the gear shifter in reverse, the fuse for the brake light will burn out. I guess the first thing I would suspect is the backup light switch? Anyone else have this problem before?

Thanks,

Phil

[targa80]

sounds like it could be anything in the back up light circuit.

[Jim Sims]

Has the engine/transmission been out recently possibly resulting in severed/pinched wires leading to the back up light switch? Jim

[78sc]

Originally posted by Jim Sims
Has the engine/transmission been out recently possibly resulting in severed/pinched wires leading to the back up light switch? Jim

No, engine/trans has been planted in there since I bought it 9 months ago. (my first Porsche and I LOVE IT!!) During a drive one day, it just burned the fuse when transmission was put in reverse.

I have the 101 projects book and figured I'd start with the back up light switch and test backwards from there. It's got to be something mechanically related to transmission lever/linkage.

Phil

[PBJauker]

check the wires on your backup light switch

[fintstone]

Since I don't have a schematic of your year, I am not sure if the backup and brakelights come off the same fuse. If they do, then obviously the problem is in the backup light circuit. I suspect they come off different fuses, so if your backup lights work and not your brakelights, I would not check the backup switch. I would first check the brakelight switch for a bare wire that is shorting...I assume you put your foot on the brake when you go into reverse. That might be just enough to ground a bare wire.
If that is not the cause, I would ckeck the shift linkage to ensure that the brakelight wire has not been run such that it is pinched when in reverse.