Morning everyone
I am the proud new owner of an '89 Camaro RS. I suspect I'm going to be browsing these forums quite a bit....

EDIT: My initial observations were incorrect, I have since noticed that the previous information was incorrect.

So Initially, I thought that the brake lights and turn signals did not turn on at all. This was wrong, after checking again today, they do in fact come on, however they are extremely dim. They are about the brightness that the idle running lights in the rear should be when headlights are on.

Once headlights are turned on, the rear lights no longer work. When hazards are turned on, the license plate lights come on, but not the brake lights or turn signals. When headlights are on, the turn signals nor the brake lights will activate the rear lights. There are also no rear running lights when headlights are on. My headlight switch works for the front lights & dash light adjustment, all three positions work, and the dial rotates and adjusts interior lights properly.

I ran through the fuses and replaced the accessory fuse, which fixed my horn & door light.

I feel somewhat doubtful that the rear lights just need to be replaced; I feel like there's a power or wiring issue, but my knowledge of cars is... less than adequate. This is my learning experience

Additionally, the turn signals do flash; but extremely slowly. Another Camaro owner said it'd be an easy fix with a new flasher under the dash.



I'll admit my naivety here. I've never worked on a car before; this car is meant to be a learning experience, mixed with a bit of fun. I have a fair understanding of electronics and know how to use a multimeter/potentiometer, and I'm familiar with tools and mechanics.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated

 

Sounds like an open ground maybe.Or the wrong bulb/s in the tail/brake sockets (1157), 1156 for the sig/rev.Thats where id start anyway.Id also check if there is 12v at the socket when theyre turned on.

 

Thanks for the reply. When you're talking about the 12v, do you mean the cigarette lighter port? Right now it's empty, seems pretty rusted/dirty. Could that be sapping power/shorting something? Im going to try replacing one of the bulbs and seeing if it fixes it, but how would I check for something like an open ground? I don't even know where the grounds would be, but that sounds a lot more likely than the bulbs just being bad.

 

I mean 12v at the taillight socket, if the light are dim like you say.There may not be a full 12v at the socket, but i feel it may be a loose or missing ground.As for finding the grounds.Youll just have to find/follow the blk wire to where it attaches to the body.Theres probably more than one though, but its trail & error or better yet get a wiring schematic of the car.

 

This is what sounded the most likely to me as well; I took the back panel off to start troubleshooting from the back, and the first thing I see is a ground just dangling, not screwed into anything. Grounded it, everything is fixed. Blinkers flash at the right speed now, everythings the right brightness; Thank you for your advice. So glad it was simple... this time

 

Always best to start with the easy/cheap fixes, then work your way up.Glad it worked out.