So I just failed inspection because my brake lights are not working. Neither bulb comes on, yet I have found both individual lights to be operational with a multimeter. I've fished up some wiring diagrams on this, and it appears that the only switch between the power source and the brake lamps is the brake switch.

However, I always noticed that depressing the brake pedal causes a "clicking" sound in my car coincident with the brake lights coming on. This occurs whether the ignition is on or not. Ever since being told that my brake lights are dead, I have noticed that I don't hear any such click.

So, the wiring diagrams say no relay, yet I used to hear a relay click with the brakes. My car does have an alarm system installed, but it has been disabled ever since I got the car. It's a Viper alarm (older model), but the install looks like a hack job.

Is it possible that a brake light relay was added with the alarm system? If so, where should I look to trace this problem (since the stock wiring diagrams would be irrelevant)?

Thanks

 

No sancho I don't beleive there is any relay involved, try replacing the brake light switch.I can't think of anything else that it could be other than a possible wire problem in that circuit. GOOD LUCK,TIM

 

If it is the brake switch, I should be able to test it by closing/opening some of the leads. I looked down there and just noticed that the brake switch has two wires coming out of the end and three wires coming out of the side. (Then there's another switch next to it but I think that's cruise control...)

Which of these wires do I need to short to test the circuit?

 

Not sure about that,I've never tried,but I beleive thats your problem.And yes you're correct the brake switch has 2 wires &the other is for the cruise

 

Thanks for your replies, Timmy...

Well I looked at those diagrams a bit harder and noticed that I was looking at the wrong fuse. I just checked my "STOP HAZ" fuse and it was indeed blown. I put a replacement and depressed the brake pedal while looking at the new fuse, and it blew again the instant I pushed the brake.

So, the brake switch works--I've just got a short somewhere downstream of the fuse and switch...

 

Yeah,I've had that headache more than once. Good luck sancho

 

I am an idiot. That "short" which was downstream of the switch and fuse was created by myself. I had removed the rearmost interior panel a couple weeks ago (the one that covers the hatch pulldown assembly) and noticed that it had a connector that mated with two contacts on the hatch lid itself. I have been driving the car without that panel ever since but, thinking I was covering my bases, I decided to put a jumper cable between two leads of the connector which was previously connected to the interior panel that I removed. I thought doing so would "simulate" the hatch being closed, but it turns out that those contacts which I shorted weren't a switch--they're for the third brake light.



Anyways, I've since resolved the "short" in the line and replaced the fuse. Works like a charm now. Thanks for the help, though, Timmy!