ok i drove the car out of the shop today and someone pulled up to me to tell me i had no tail lights. so i pulled over and checked. i have park lamps on in the taillights, but no actual brakes. i have current at the fuse, so what could it be other than a shorted wire?. im assuming the brake switch is good because i can shift out of park, or is the brake switch and the shift lock on another circuit? i havent really gotten to look into it since its dark now, i figured i would start getting some input in case i cant fix it

 

check the bulb wires themselves. i had that problem awhile back. the heat from the bulbs melted parts of the housing and the wires were fubared. hopefully you can just fix the short and not replace the whole light housing like me.

 

yeah but 4 bulbs and the 3rd brake light wont work, so if it is a short or a burnt wire it has to be in the inside of the car. ill have to check

 

A burnt housing and/or wires can cause all of them to go out.

 

I think the stop light switch and the interlock switch are on different circuits. First thing you need to do is get a test 12v light. It will make things so easy.
1)Test for power at the switch. If not, test the fuse. If fuse is ok, your problem is before the fuse. You'll need a wire diagram.
2)If you have power to the switch try removing the plug from the switch and jump it with a wire. If the lights come on, it's the switch.
3)If not use the test light to check for power at the tail light plugs. If you have power, the housing is the problem. Don't forget to check the grounds.
4)If you don't have power you'll have to trace back to find the brake in the wire.
First things first, get a test light.

 

i have a test light and a voltmeter, i have no problem tracing electrical problems since my first car was full of them, i just havent been able to since the car isnt home yet. my haynes manual sucks since there are no schematics in it. i just thought the interlock and brake were on the same circuit, since both you and mike(aswm66) say they are seppt then i think the problem must be the brake switch, thanks for the help.

 

BULBS had the same problem have you been changing your bulbs lately???


if you put the wrong bulb inthe the socket it blows the fuse and stuff



does your gagues light up, if it doesnt then that is your problem the bulb in the tails and the fuse are blown

 

all fuses have power
keep in mind i dont have 3rd gen tails anymore
the park lamps turn on(when headlights areon)as do all the other lights, my 3rd brake light doesnt work.
its the switch, i just have to get the car home so i can test it

 

crossed wires, bad relays, bad switch.. hrrm.. get new lights,,,lol, have you tried to put other blubs in there???? maybe the wires are somehow pinched or water got into them

 

take your voltmeter and stick the probe into the break light switch and see if you have VOLTAGE in and out when pressing the peddle.

 

car still at body shop

 

ok so i parked my car next to the parts car to see the switches easier(dash is off on the parts car) there are 2 switches on both, but the shift interlock and the tail light work off the same switch. (im assuming the clicking noise i hear, followed by be being able to shift out of park is the shift interlock, right?)
so heres the deal. i hear the clicking go on all the time when i press the brake, and when i ground the test light and touch it to the red/yellow wire, it also clicks, but there is no power(bulb doesnt turn on. now when i connect 12 volt directlyto the red/yellow wire, and press the brake i get both the interlock to work and the tails to light up. fuse has power, switch is good, wiring is good, at least from the switch on. how could the interlock work and not the tails? could there be resistence in the wiring, only allowing enough power to kick over the interlock relay? thats the only thing i can think of. right no i just pinned in a 12 volt source to the switch to get it to work, but i dont wanna be missing something else. and what does that other switch do?

 

Check terminal #3 of the shift lock control unit for a loose or broken wire.

 

To the stop lite switch you should have a R/W and R/Y wire. The R/Y should be hot, the R/W is to the brake lites.

 

the control unit is in the pass side kick panel right?

 

I looked in the book and it looks like it is in the passenger right side kick panel.

 

Have you checked to see if you have good ground????

 

i have it rigged right now so the lights work. i just jumped a wire from the fuse block to the red/yellw wire and they work fine, i now just have to trace the red yellow wire and see where it isnt getting enough power

 

The R/Y wire goes to the fuse block 15A fuse. There is also a 15A fuse that controls the headlights in the engine copartment fuse box.