Does anyone know how the third brake light on an 86 works. I took apart a friends of mine to see why it wasn't working and we found out there are no power wirers. All we see are ground wirers. So how does this thing get power?

I took mine apart and its the same way except mine works lol.

 

There is a power wire, otherwise it wouldn't work......a light needs power!

I don't have a wiring diagram infront of me but the power likely comes from one of the tail lights and not direct, therefore the wire colour may be deceiving.

If you want to verify, use a DVM on ohms and touch one wire (with the wires disconnected) and other lead to the chassis. THis will verify ground. Try both wires to see which is ground. The other will be power. First i would check both wires for power when the brakes are being applied....it could just be the bulb.

Test the bulb with an ohm meter to see if it is pooched.

 

or sense you would already have it off you could just replace the bulbs so you wouldn't have to take it off again as soon

 

all bulbs are good so back to the drawing board. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for this??

 

mine has contacts at the very back of the hatch, when the hatch is open it is disconnected and when it is closed it is connected. i think that has something to do with the brake light cause my 84 doesn't have them. but i'm not sure.

 

Mine has those contacts too. I am pretty sure thats how power gets to the center stoplight.