Brake light problem

[BBB3]

I have a 1995 Camry LE, and I am having a brake light problem that I need help with.

All of my brake lights work perfectly when I do not have my headlights on.

When I turn my headlights on, the upper deck brake light still works properly, but the lower brake lights are lit all of the time as if I have my foot on the brake. When I do apply the brakes, there is no change in those "stuck" lights since they are already brightly lit.


Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bates

1995 Camry LE
mileage 167K

[dc_98_cam]

The stop lights, and the tail lights, which are on when the headlights are on, have control wires that meet in the vicinity of the light failure sensor. The green with red wire, terminal 2, goes to the stop lights, and the light green wire, terminal 9, goes to the tail lights. Inspect the light failure sensor, in the trunk area, for any obvious contact between these two wires. If you find nothing wrong, replace the light failure sensor .... get one from salvage yard to try out.
First, just remove the LFS, clean terminals with contact cleaner, and replace to see if that is the only problem.

see page 35 of wiring diagram for light failure sensor location.

[BBB3]

Thanks!

[Venom_5]

the red lights in the rear are supposed to be on when you have your headlights on ....

they should get brighter, however, when you press the brake pedal

are you SURE that they dont get brighter when you press the pedal? if so, do what he said above

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Venom_5

the red lights in the rear are supposed to be on when you have your headlights on ....they should get brighter, however, when you press the brake pedal

I believe the tail lights and brake lights are two separate bulb filaments within the same bulb with two separte wiring circuits. They only look brighter when the brakes are pressed because they are in the same lense.

[BBB3]

I removed the tailight assemblies to see what was going on.

When the headlights were on, BOTH filaments were lit - the one that should be lit when the headlights are on, AND the one that should only be lit when the brakes are applied (the brakes were not being applied).

I removed, then reinserted both the passenger and driver side bulbs, and now it works fine. Go figure.

Thanks again for the responses.

Bates

[dc_98_cam]

Looks like something is getting into the bulb sockets .... moisture maybe. Probably ought to take some kind of spray cleaner, remove bulbs, and clean out sockets.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by dc_98_cam

Looks like something is getting into the bulb sockets .... moisture maybe. Probably ought to take some kind of spray cleaner, remove bulbs, and clean out sockets.

I agree. Then use some dielectric grease to help keep the moisture out.

Mike