Tail Light Failure Lamp

[radiod]

The lamp doesn't light up after it's inital startup check, but then comes on the first time I hit the brakes or turn the lights on. I did a visual inspection and all my lights are good...low beams, high beams, front markers, rear makers, running lights, brake lights, and signals all around. Why would it all of the sudden pop up like that? Am I missing something else that could be setting it off?

 

[SupraBro]

im having the same problem...cant figure it out....if someone would chime in that would be awsome

 

[Jeff Lange]

It's either the brake bulbs, sockets, or wiring. It also happens if the spoiler is changed from a pre-89 to 89+ or vice-versa. It can also happen if the wrong wattage bulbs are used.

Jeff

 

[Drake69]

Do a search on tail light sensor bypass. It's a common problem in our cars, usually caused by moisture getting to the wirings/housing in the back hatch area. It won't hurt anything bypassing it altogether IF you check every so often to see if all the bulbs light up in the back. I'm on my third sensor and I'm still having the same problem, so I'm going to bypass it completely.

 

[Drake69]

Repeat post.

 

[Poodles]

If the sensor isn't bad then you have other problems, bypassing it will only be a bandaid...

Also, it's easier to check the bulbs if you pull the bulb holders out so you don't have to look through the lense. Lense can hide one of the brake light bulbs being out quite easily.

 

[Heavy D]

i wish mine was the sensor it self, last idiot that had my car, put couple 194 bulbs and wired it up to the tail lights and now has a mess of wires going every where, then the spoiler light is always on non stop for some reason and never turns off, if i hit the brakes it doesnt get any brighter it stays the same for some reason

 

[radiod]

Mine just starting happening out of the blue one day, so I'll give it a shot and pull the bulbs out. I was looking in to some of the threads on the bypass, but all the picture links were dead that I could find.

 

[radiod]

Well, you can call me retarded. The inner brake bulb on the left hand side looked like a smoke bomb had gone off in the bulb. I removed them from the enclosure as suggested and it was pretty clear which was burned. Thanks for the suggestion there Poodles. The lenses very much can hide that second bulb, especially in daylight conditions.