Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

Old 10-15-2017, 08:34 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PURPLE Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 z28 purple orchid
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 373
3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

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?
Old 10-15-2017, 10:36 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

The GM service manual would be a good place to start your education.
Old 10-16-2017, 11:14 AM
  #3  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (128)
 
henryd3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central California
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 0
Received 37 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: LO3
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

What about it needs fixing?
Old 10-16-2017, 12:48 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PURPLE Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 z28 purple orchid
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 373
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

Originally Posted by henryd3
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?
Old 10-16-2017, 12:50 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PURPLE Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 z28 purple orchid
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 373
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

I felt that adding the other problems may be important as they all 3 have circuits in the same area
Old 10-16-2017, 01:31 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (128)
 
henryd3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central California
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 0
Received 37 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: LO3
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

You did check the bulb to make sure it's not burnt out?
Old 10-16-2017, 02:05 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (167)
 
John in RI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: RI
Posts: 5,018
Received 348 Likes on 263 Posts
Car: 1984 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56 6-speed
Axle/Gears: 4.11 LS1 Rear End
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

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.

Old 10-16-2017, 03:28 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PURPLE Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 z28 purple orchid
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 373
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

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
Old 10-16-2017, 03:47 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (167)
 
John in RI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: RI
Posts: 5,018
Received 348 Likes on 263 Posts
Car: 1984 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56 6-speed
Axle/Gears: 4.11 LS1 Rear End
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

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 !

Old 10-17-2017, 03:41 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
PURPLE Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 z28 purple orchid
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 373
Re: 3rd brake light, hatch, 91-92 camaro HELP

Update

light is fixed, now just confused on hatch motor


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:32 PM.