Ok, this has been aggravating me for years, and I have yet to find out the answer. In my 92 camaro, the upper center brake light isn't working... If I get in the back seat and take off the cover to it, and put a new bulb in, it sometimes works. It's almost like I have to jiggle it in the right spot to get it to actually stay on. But if I end up hitting a bump or something, most of the time that causes it to not work anymore... Do I have a short in the plug in itself? Maybe someone has had this same issue?

 

the socket may be bad. Specially if you've ever had any type of moisture in the car...it would go to the high spot to evaporate...which would lead the moisture right over that. I've only seen that happen a couple of times. Check the socket...make sure that there is no corrosion or anything. Go to advance auto or an auto parts stores...they usually have like electrical connection greese that keeps moisture out for like spark plugs and such...possibly after cleanning it...if it works more reliably...use some of that liquid to make it water resistant.

Also...can't remember what bulb it uses...but i have a 91 hatch on mine now so i got the interior high stop light like you...but some of those bulbs the terminals that fold up the sides...go to the side and don't make the proper connection...make sure they are straight when u put them in...and make sure the socket looks good inside.

Otherwise...to rule everything out...get a digital volt meter (DVM)...you can either continue playing with the socket...or better yet would be to pierce the wires so make sure the break isn't just in the wire...and have someone step on the brake pedal. If you get 12V in your DVM (or -12V if you have the terminals reversed), then you know the problem lies in the socket...and you can further diagnose it/replace the socket.

Good luck!

 

Have you tried taking the bulb out and with a very small screw driver, expanding the wires to improve the contact when it's put back into the socket? That worked for me for a while. But, I did end up replacing the rear brake light assembly for as the long term solution.

You might also remove the assembly and put your test set on both ends, move the wire around to see if it goes open once in a while...

Good luck

 

Well I work at autozone, so finding the bulb is no problem... I do notice on cold mornings, when my rear hatch is froze, or is fogged up. The only place that isnt fogged up or iced is where the light goes so I dont think it could be moisture?