I need infor on the 3rd brake light that is located inside, attached to the rear hatch on the 91-92 camaro, want to fix mine but have no idea about how they tick, advice?

 

The GM service manual would be a good place to start your education.

 

What about it needs fixing?

 

light does not come on when braking, nor is there a passive lighting like the rear 2 tailight when the headlights are on at night...my defroster flim/paint doesn't seem to work either, as well as the hatch motor....the motor I've played around with trying to get it hooked up correctly, to see if someone just hooked it up wrong...when I bought her the hatch was crooked from a shot lift strut, and I was told they unhooked the motor to keep with from whining and draining battery...I've fixed the crookedness, and the hatch shuts fine, and lifts once the key is engaged from behind....what I want is to fix the light, and fix the motor, the film can wait but if anyone has knowledge on any of it, that would be spectactular...I have 2 manuals, but neither are directly from gm, anyone have a pdf or link for the gm book on my year?

 

 

You did check the bulb to make sure it's not burnt out?

 

The 3rd brake light will not illuminate at all until the brake is pushed. It's JUST a brake light, it's not a "marker" light and will not become active when the Park lights or Headlights are on.

Lets assume that you've already changed the bulb.....


Either get a helper or get a stick. Hold the brake light down ( helpers foot or wedge the stick between the pedal and the seat to hold the pedal down ) and use a voltmeter to check the 3rd light for power and ground. Black = Negative and Yellow = voltage when brake is pushed. I'm pretty sure the 3rd lights wiring connector is located under the "teardrop" plastic trim over the middle of the rear seat,... just unplug the connector and probe the wiring there.

If the wiring shows voltage then the problem is the bulb, the bulb sockets, or the light itself. If there is no voltage than you'll have to ensure good ground, and/or trace the yellow wire to find out where'why it's not carrying voltage when the pedal is pushed. The 3rd brake yellow power wire leads from under the dash, then it's included in the dome light harness and runs up the 'A" pillar, to the roof, past the dome light, then to the 3rd light on the hatch.

 

Alright I'll update once I've tried to take care of the brake light, any info on the hatch motor? I know they can come off track, but my problem is that I've never seen one behave like it's "supposed to"...my hatch shuts, and opens with the key, the console switch has never done anythung since I've had it....and the only time I've ever had the motor "work" is one night I was about to leave, opened the hatch, and the motor was buzzing like it was trying to work all of a sudden, I'm pretty confident I have it plugged up correctly, but have no idea how it functions

 

Can't help on the hatch motor,..... I know the 86-91 1/2 style pretty well, but don't know 'squat' about the 91-92 version !

 

Update

light is fixed, now just confused on hatch motor