Rear brake lights don't work

BOB TAYLOR2

MEMBER
2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
18,000 MILES

Chevy cavalier - rear brake lights don't work. The center rear brake light does work as well as all other lights.
Replaced the bulbs and fuse - no luck.

From what I have been told, the turn signal switch is probably the issue, but to replace it requires pulling the steering wheel and air bag.

Can't I just tap off the wires that go to the working center brake light and run them to the other 2 brake lights?

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

So the high mount brake light works but the left and right brake light is inop?I would check the brake switch the power signal breaks off to feed the different brake lights from the brake switch. Do you have a test light or better yet a multimeter?

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Friday, November 4th, 2011 AT 11:03 PM

BOB TAYLOR2

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3 POSTS

If I check the brake switch and it has power then it is my understanding that it routes through the turn signal switch which requires pulling the steering wheel.
If that is the case, can't I just tap off the wires that go to the working center brake light and run them to the other 2 brake lights?

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Friday, November 4th, 2011 AT 11:29 PM

SATURNTECH9

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30,870 POSTS

Just looked at the wire diagram for the high mount brake lights the power comes straight from the switch to the high mount lights. So I know the brake switch works since the high mount lights work. So heres what I need you to check at the turn signal switch you should have power to the white wire when stepping on the brake. Also while stepping on the brake you should have power at the dark green and also the yellow wire at the turn signal switch. The dark green and the yellow wire are the power feeds out to the left and right brake lights. The white wire is the power feed in from the brake switch. Iam not going to recommend tapping into the third brake light to make the other ones work. That is mickey mouse and would never do that. Let me know what you find and we will go from there.

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Saturday, November 5th, 2011 AT 12:56 AM

BOB TAYLOR2

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3 POSTS

I can't get to the turn signal switch. Checked the yellow and green wire at the rear lights with brakes on - no power.

Decided to try tapping the center brake light. Ran a wire from the white on the center light to the yellow on one brake light and to the other lights green.
Brakes all worked, but when I put on a signal light all of the rear lights started blinking.

There are 3 wires at each bulb, as brown, black and either yellow of green.

Is there a different combination that might work, or do I need to send in it to the shop.

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Saturday, November 5th, 2011 AT 3:55 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Thats why I said I didnt recomend mickey mousing it you cant remove the steering column shrouds?There is screws holding it on and if you remove it that should give you acess to it.