Is it possible that the passenger rear brake light is connected with the center, and when the rear brake light goes out the center doesn't come on? Or do I have a problem on my hands? I'd hate to post this as it may sound rediculas but its hard for me to take off the back panel (dont ask me why) and I need to know if my case scenerio would be my problem. I know they must be connected in some way cause there both out...

 

On what year/model car? On my 1990 Iroc-Z, there are two wires coming off the brake switch. A light blue going to both tail lights, and a yellow/black stripe wire going to the contact panel on the hatch, which then goes to the high centre mounted brake light.

Hope this helps.

 

I have an 89rs but that does help, the hatch leak I have probably shorted out one of those wires causing the passenger rear brake not to engage which in turn causes my center light to malfunction... so thats how the middle light is activated huh? Through that little contact area...I hope sealing up where my rear glass meets the panel fixes my hatch leak
Thanks for the reply

 

Also, for the hatch leak, look at the weatherstripping between your hatch fill panel (which the spoiler sits on) and the glass. Years of exposure might've caused that rubber to shrink back from the glass, and give you a leak. Solution: Buy a tube of black silicone (weatherstripping stuff), and use it to fill the gaps. Cut the old stuff out using a razor blade; make the cut so it goes slightly under the edge of the fill panel. Then, when you fill the void with silicone, after it dries, use a razorblade to slant the silicone at an angle that keeps the water away from the panel. Make that angle so the silicone is thickest at the bottom (closest to glass) and thinner at the top (near fill panel). I hope that made sense!