My problem all started about a week ago, I was on the highway and my dash lights and corner lights suddenly went out. I pull over at a safe spot to stop and when I hit the brakes my dash lights turn back on, but with no brake pedal they shut off again. I replaced the fuse and it was all fine for a day or two then it did it again. And it keeps getting worse and worse. Tonight it got really bad and did it to me 3 times in about 12 miles but the dash lights stopped turning on the with brake pedal... so I think brake light switch but couldnt find anyone with any such problem on the search. Its also been turing on the dash lights when I hit the brakes with the headlights turned off.

I have checked all the visible wiring for tail/ brake lights and changed out most of the bulbs. Anyway any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I just can not keep driving my car this way as it is a daily driver and I drive at night quite often.

Thanks again

Ryan

 

"somewhat frequently"mine just have 1 or 2 of the four brake\tailights
not lighting up when i hit the brake the tail\parking part of the bulbs
almost always work though

ONE time my 92 se did what your talking about and i changed a fuse till it did it agian soon after

so i pulled the tail\brake bulbs and the contacts were flattened till they were
"bridged"(the 2 metal dots at bulb end)changed bulb and it hasnt happened
since.

i also now routinely tighten the small screws in the plastic light bulb plates
some connect what looks like ground wires and file or scrape the bottom of the bulbs on the concrete to stop the 2 "dot" contacts on the bulbs from
bridgeing they seem to "melt"and distort over time
i frequently back up to store windows and keep an eye on my tail lights

any one know if having only 2 or 3 of 4 actual brake lights working is ticketable or reason to pull you over? some cars only have 2 actual brake
lights anyway we really have a safe 6 actual brake lights counting the 2 on the spoiler or rear deck(chmsl)

 

OP:
Time Control Unit.
it's fried.

 

sounds more to me like the common corrosion in socket issue that relates to the post above yours.

 

ok, pulled all of the lights out this morning and one was severely corroded, swapped the whole housing with on of my friends tonight and have had no problem. thanks again.

~Ryan

 

Wow I am having the same problem this was helpful. I've changed the bulbs now, but now none of my dash lights come on. The dash lights went out on me yesterday for the first time before I did have a partially melted connection piece which I swapped out. I checked the fuse and it appears to be fine. Where is the time control unit?

 

The timer control unit is located underneath the stock alarm control unit, which is under the metal cover that is underneath the steering wheel. The unit resembles a white bar of soap. To check to see if it's burnt, you have to open the unit up and physically look at the traces on the circuit board. If it's burnt, and if you are handy with a soldering iron, then you can repair it.

 

I have an issue with my parking brake light staying on even after I have disengaged it. I had this same problem earlier about nine months ago, but it went away and just today it came back. Any ideas as to what the problem might be?

 

if the light stays on, despite the lever being all the way down, the switch may be bad, or mis-adjusted (if that's possible).

 

Well, I took a closer look at it and turns out that I was dangerously low on brake fluid. It could be the fact that the front pads are tired. I changed them out not more than 8000 miles ago...

 

Simple Change your Sockets... It Will Fix Your Problem.... Happen To Me Already

 

Where did you find replacement sockets?

 

Local auto parts stores. they uusally have one that can be modified to fit. big issue is getting the new socket attached to the housing, as the factory ones have a metal tab for a screw IIRC. I always just used a piece of mechanics' wire or ty wrap to hold it in place and haven't had a problem yet.

 

89-91 have complete assembly replacements readily available.

 

From dealer only, or aftermarket?

oh hell.. I just looked them up on Courtesy's website and they're $23 each (unless you have a 92-94VG and they're $50 each)..
That's WAY cheaper than what they used to be. They were $200 each 8 years ago when I rebuilt mine.

 

aftermarket.
but @ $23 for it, I can't see a reason to go aftermarket.

 

yeah, that's kinda my point as well. then again, hopefully the OEM ones are revised and don't have cheap plastic inserts in the bulb sockets.