tail/brake light problem
 

Rear light problem...'88 Carrera

LR running light works, until the brake pedal is pushed. Then the brake light illuminates, but the running light goes out. What is the problem?:confused:

I out smarted myself a few years back, one lightbulb burned out, so I replaced them all. Now I continually have light issues.:mad:

What gives?

Verify it is the OEM spec bulb, I out smarted myself too but apparently I replaced them with the 1157 and one side kept blinking out. Get the old ones and make sure the socket is functioning.

I know it seem too simple but it worked for me.

From what I understand the common 1157, which happens to look like the proper bulb , (the number escapes me) won't function properly. Also, about a month ago my brake lights weren't functioning at all.... it seems that ONE bulb had a bad connection. Change your bulbs to Porsche spec (if required) and make sure all your connections are good and proper.....electricity is like water, it will find the path of least resistance. Although your symptoms are unusual, the wiring in these tail lights seem to be a little unusual too. Cheers

1988 PORSCHE 911
High & low beam headlamp
9004
9004SU SilverStar Ultra: The brightest and whitest light. Up to 50% brighter, up to 40% more downroad visibility and up to 50% more sideroad visibility.
9004ST Silverstar: The brighter and whiter light. Up to 35% brighter, up to 30% more downroad visibility and up to 35% more sideroad visibility.
9004EB EcoBright - Your Environmental Choice. Save Energy - Save Money. Up to 25% brighter light. CO2 reduced 9 to 21%. Gas savings $2 to $19.
9004XV XtraVision: The brighter light for upgraded performance. Up to 30% brighter light and up to 25% more downroad visibility.
9004CB Cool Blue: The whiter light for style. Up to 25% brighter light and up to 25% more downroad visibility.

Parking light
7528
7528LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Front turn signal
7528
7528LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Rear turn signal
7506
7506ST SilverStar: The brighter, whiter signal light. Up to 30% brighter light, up to 20% whiter light and up to 10% farther and wider.
7506LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Tail light
7528
7528LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Stop light
7528
7528LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

High mount stop light
7506
7506ST SilverStar: The brighter, whiter signal light. Up to 30% brighter light, up to 20% whiter light and up to 10% farther and wider.
7506LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Fog/Driving light
H3-55W

License plate
3893
3893LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Back up light
7506
7506ST SilverStar: The brighter, whiter signal light. Up to 30% brighter light, up to 20% whiter light and up to 10% farther and wider.
7506LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Front sidemarker
3893
3893LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Rear sidemarker
3893
3893LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Dome light
6411
6411LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

Instrument-general
2721
2721LL SYLVANIA Long Life miniature bulbs perform twice as long as any standard miniature bulb. Designed for durability, lower maintenance and greater safety.

I had a prob with brake lights quitting on the track. I rebuilt the light housing 2 or 3 times carefully cleaning all connections etc. The brakes would light at home in the garage but as soon as I got to the track nada.

TCALSS, it was the bulb bayonet pins making intermittent contact. The retaining springs were old and tired allowing the bulb to move into an unhappy position. All I did was slide an o ring over the bulb which just became compressed when the bulb is installed. This holds the pins firmly against the ground detents.

Yeap 7528's, no more flaky stop light issues. Also used pin/hook tool to pull on the contacts for guaranteed contact.

If you look at the specs the 7528's is quite different from the generic 1157's

In my case, the flakiness in my brake lights was solved when I went from 3893 to 1157. The 3893 bulbs weren't making consistent contact, but the 1157's do. I've been using 1157 for rear brake lights for years with no issues in my '86.