Hi,
Recently I've noticed that the third brake light on my 86 camaro sc isn't working. I wanted to modify it and this is how I found out. I tested the leads that go to the four bulbs and there is no power at all, my other lights work fine. What would be my next step in finding theproblem, thanks in advance.

Brian

 

Abbreeder,

Welcome Aboard!

Your third brake lamp gets its power through the foil on the inside of the glass hatch, and grounds through the hatch support gas springs. Make sure teh push-on connectors are securely connected to teh lower ends of the gas springs and the contacts at the rear edge of the hatch are clean and intact.

 

Vader, isn't that for the upper on hatch bracket light?

Because the Lower Hatch 3rd braket light, in the spoiler has wires going to a possible lead that touches a plate on the rear cargo piece, when the hatch is closed.

Which type of 3rd brake light is it? You say hatch so I assume it's the one that's almost on the roof?!

 

Yeah! it's the high mount hatch brake light, I checked the connections at the hatch lifters and there is no power getting to them, is the high mount on the same fuse as the other brake lights? I don't see any bad fuses. I don't know what it could be? any more help would be great, you've been the best help already,
Brian

 

What year car is this? IIRC, the high mount lights got power from the dome light ckt, not the rear hatch contacts. My '88 has 4 contacts near the pull down motor and has the spoiler-mounted light. My '91 has the high-mounted light and gets power thru the dome light ckt.

Which do you have?

Ed

 

I figured it out yesterday, with some help. It goes through the pull down motor. I re routed it to the running lights anyway as I'm going to modify it and want it on whenever my lights are. Thank you all for the help.

Brian
86 camaro sc

 

For the record, it was an 86 so should be the high mounted light, correct?

 

From what I can determine, the 1986 model year was the only ThirdGen that had the exterior third brake light mounted high on the rear glass hatch (Corvette-style lamp housing).

 

could you explain how the third brake light is wired through the pulldown motor? i have the same problem (3rd brake light) and i figure it might be because i made my now-dead pulldown motor a "stationary" one by securing it with screws at the proper height. would this = no current = no connection for the brake light? fuses are ok and the bulb is fine too

 

I actually think it's illegal for it to be on with the rest of the running lights. If it's on, it'll confuse peope as to whether you are actually stopping or not.

 

I have the same problem on my 86 IROC, the only difference is when i hit the brakes the light on my defroster switch comes on and i hafta turn the defroster off after every stop. The third brake light came on once after i messed with the wiring for a bit but then it would not go off. Apparently the person i bought the car from thought they were studly and did their own wiring job. Everything under the dash was a mess, luckily i have rewired a thirdgen dash before, but this has me stumped.

The only thing i can think of is re-wiring it to the other brake lights but im afraid the 3rd light will blink with the turn signals.


P.S.
If anybody can understand it there is an 86 wiring diagram in the tech articles. Didnt help me though

 

i fixed my friends 3 brake light by using christmas lights, not really that bright but bright enough to see hes braking.

2maros1fox you have a disconnected wire in the back on the struts that hold up the hatch check those wires first see if their lose. hope this helps

 

(feels very stupid)
endeed when I replaced the struts i forgot to reconnect one side.
Thank much!

 

Hmmm, I have a 91 RS with a high mounted rear 3rd brake light. Its at the center top of the rear hatch window. It doesn't work since I bought it though, need to tear off the headliner and trace it .

 

No need to trace anything out. Odds are that only the bulb is out. You unscrew 2 Torx screws in the plastic light housing from the inside, it drops down, and viola---there's the bulb.


Right. The '90-92s IIRC have the internal mounted HMSL, which aren't bolted to the hatch glass.


Ed

 

Ahhh, didn't catch that "exterior" part .

 

Checked the hatch shock like things attached rigjt. New bulb. Still no third light.