3rd brake light wiring schematic(fixed!)

[AlienInv8r]

Well, I just failed Va State inspection cuz my 3rd brake light is out. It's not the bulb, so I'm guessing it's gotta be something in the wiring somewhere. Does anyone have a link or a document of the wiring schematic for the 3rd brake like? I was hoping to not hafta tear apart the car to trace the wires, but it may need to come down to that. Who would've thought that even though I have two huge side brakelights, that that tiny 3rd brake light will cause you to fail inspection. Anyways, if anyone has the wiring schematics, or any tips on tracking down the links in the 3rd brake light I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!

[ April 01, 2004, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: AlienInv8r ]

[hockeyman]

I just had a similar problem with my 3rd light too. I replaced both bulbs and they wouldn't work. Turns out that the lightbrown grease that GM uses was interfering with the bulbs connection. I cleaned some (not all) of the grease out, and the bulbs work fine. Try it first before tearing any wires out.

-Marc

[AlienInv8r]

Hmm, I'll definitely give that a shot. The guy who inspected my car said that a lot of people mess up light wiring when installing aftermarket alarms. I'm wondering if the last owner goofed up some when he installed the alarm. It seems like the wiring is ok going from the actual light down to the inside dome where they connect. I'm not sure how to check for it from under the dash. I tore everything apart and it seems like everything is connected to the brake relay. I read somewhere that it is a light blue wire, and that was indeed connected. But I have no idea where it goes to, as it just gets tangled up in the mass of wires beneath there. Argh, this is so frustrating....Thanks for the tip, anyone else have any ideas or wiring schematics?

[CAMAROWIDBASS]

why would you fail inspection for a 3rd brake light?

Not all cars have them.

[AlienInv8r]

That was my point exactly too!! But apparently since like the past 10 years or so pretty much all cars have them and it's required. So any car that comes from the factory with a 3rd brake light, is required to have it for safety inspection. Tell me that's not the biggest line of bull you've ever heard....
Anyways, I never found a schematic, but found on another forum that a light blue wire is the one going to the 3rd brake light. Also, it is a separate circuit from the side brake lights - GM engineering at its best :rolleyes: What I think I am going to do is tomorrow go buy an LED light thing and splice the power coming from my side brake light. Kinda ghetto rig it to work so I can pass inspection. I hope that does the job, this bright pink rejection sticker definitely isn't very attractive...

[AlienInv8r]

Well, I spent the last two hours tracing the wires with a circuit tester and basically just unplugging and replugging all the connectors. I popped the bulbs out to do another circuit test at the bulb fixture and the dang thing worked!! All my sail panels and stuff are out of the car right now, but the dang thing is working! Woohoo! I dunno what exactly the prob was, but who cares, it's working now. Must've been a loose connection. For anyone that ever is wondering, the circuit for your third brake light runs from the brake relay, under the driverside foot panel, up the sail panel, through the dome light, then down the side of the rear hatch into the fixture. It is a light blue(+) and black(-) wire.I don't know why GM put it on a separate circuit, but it's independent of the side brakes. Oh well, it's back to the inspection station for me.