batsibf

hey all,
I have an issue my tail lights work as they suppost to, but the 3rd tail light dose not work. checking I do not have power going to the light. I have conitunty down to the conector under the dash. this is on an '86 firebird
thanks for any help

BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

Did you mean "3rd brake light" instead?

If you don't have power at it and you checked the wire for continuity, I would check the brake light connector on the brake pedal assembly. It has an orange wire (always hot), light blue wire (sends power to the brake lights) and a light blue wire with black stripe (sends power to the 3rd brake light). Check for power on all three wires and see where it's missing.

Let us know what you find.
Lou

batsibf

I put jumpers on them and still nothing, and I did mean 3rd lack of sleep had caught up to me. The rear lights come on just fine. I have it traced under the dash to a purple with white strip wire then lose it in the harness. Now the wire that is suppost to supply power to the 3rd light is half the size of the wire going to the light, is there a relay I'm missing? I just have completed doing an engine swap.

BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

A thick purple wire with white stripe is for the defogger. So that's the wrong wire.
There is no relay for the 3rd brake light. So you are still looking for a wire. Likely light blue with a black stripe under the dash and it possibly changes color to yellow on the way to the back.

batsibf

Ok that makes sense I hate how Hanes electrical prints are so wrong, so the break light gose through the pad next to the trunk latch?

BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

It depends on where your 3rd brake light is (sorry, I don't know all the years the same).
If it is on the spoiler or the low edge of the glass on the inside, your trunk contact plate probably powers the brake light.
If the light is on the top edge of the hatch, there is probably just a flex wire by the hinges.

Hopefully somebody with more knowledge of the older models will chime in with more detail.

batsibf

There is no flex wire the only wire going to the light is one on the glass like the defogger that's on the window

batsibf

Ok problem fixed it was in the pad, the yellow wire had came off

BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

Glad you found it and managed to fix it easily.

And thank you for posting the follow up, it always helps other when they search for a problem and find a thread with a conclusion!

Lou