Right brake light does not come on

[ipacketeer]

Yesterday I was filling up the car, a guy behind me filling up his car, informed me that the right brake light on my car was out. When I got home, I have done the following;

Check the right brake light bulb = OK was not burned out
Check the fuse number 15 = OK not blown
Check the brake light switches on the master cylinder =OK there is continuity
Check the brake light harnesses =OK 12vdc present on both
Rest of the lights on the car =OK all the other lights work

I am puzzled and I need help.

[Arne2]

Bad ground or corroded contacts at the right light socket.

[redridge]

^^^ +1, if there is 12vdc present and the bulb is good.... sounds like bad contact with ground.

[ipacketeer]

Arne and Redridge, Thanks for the reply.

I did take the rear right side unit out and the back plate that covers the back of the light assembly, it is all sealed with puddy, inside is spotless and there is no power between the contact for the bulb and the ground. I am looking at the Bentley's manual to see if I can do any other test but, so far I am stuck.
I am the original owner of the car so no buddy has done any alteration to the fuse box but myself, that is about ten years ago when I installed the Carrera front cooler according to the instructions here on the board.

[ivangene]

if you have an Ohm meter I would start at the bulb with the key ON and a ski pole or other drvice holding down the brake pedal....and start probing for power - You might just replace the bulb even if it looks OK if all else seems in order

last, check the plug ins for the light housing and see if any of those have taken a hit from something off the road?>??

original owner - COOL !!

[dshepp806]

bulb or ground....

FIRST: fresh bulb install is a given,..don't care what it "looks like".....after that,....

verify your ground continuity from the socket heading backwards.

BEST!

Doyle

[HarryD]

I had a similar problem with my brake light. It would go out but would work again if I wiggled it to the correct position but would soon lose contact with either the ground or 12 volt power and go out again.

I finally went to my FLAPS, bought a $2 universal replacement socket, removed the tail light assembly from my car and opened the back. Using my Dremel, I enlarged the hole in my tail light assembly and installed the socket. Problem solved!

Cost $2
Time 1 hour

[Chuck.H]

Don, when you say:
>>Check the brake light harnesses =OK 12vdc present on both

Do you mean you see 12v in the socket for the brake light bulb? And the light doesn't come on when you install it? I had a similar problem, confounded me for a bit, until I realized I had voltage, but NOT current (amperage). The socket had 12v but had a corroded connection so it barely had any current -- would register on the voltmeter just fine, but not enough current to light a bulb.

HTH,
Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 344k miles

[ipacketeer]

No there is no voltage on the Brake Light bulb socket, what I mean is that the harnesses that connect to the Brake Light switches do have 12v.

[kodioneill]

Check the connection in engine compartment r/s just behind the oil filter make sure it hasn't come loose. You can also check for power and ground there.

[Tim L]

I had this problem and I thought it turned out there were two fuses, a left and right.

I know it was that way with the head lights.

[ipacketeer]

Kondioneill, thanks

I will follow your suggestion and report back.

[ipacketeer]

Those plugs, one on each side were properly plugged in however I did perform a test to see if power is reaching that point because, I do not have the pin layout.

[kodioneill]

Use the color code to determine the proper wire.

[nineball]

surprised no one has said the obvious, easy check - make sure the bulb is in the right way. had the same problem after swapping in all new bulbs, turns out one was in 180 degrees off.

[ipacketeer]

Nineball,

Thanks for showing interest on my problem, I tried several bulbs but did not help. It seems there is an interruption of 12v that it is not getting to the socket of the brake light bulb on the right side.

[nineball]

it was worth a shot. good luck.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by ipacketeer

Nineball,

Thanks for showing interest on my problem, I tried several bulbs but did not help. It seems there is an interruption of 12v that it is not getting to the socket of the brake light bulb on the right side.

Don,

Here are the usual suspects.....



Good luck,

Gerry

[tazzieman]

The socket ends is made of a brittle bakelite type of plastic. When the pot metal tabs that hold it in weaken and break , you lose the mechanical connection to the globe.

I fixed mine with a strip of metal bent over the socket and held on with a hoseclip + epoxy. So far it has held up. I think you'll need to get past the factory window putty to get to the root issue! Best of luck, just reseal with silicone.

[chrismorse]

Hey, did you check the right brake, maybe the problem is in the brakes!!!!

If a hammer won't fix it, maybe the problem is electrical.

Just sayin'
chris