1995 Camry brake lights don't work 1/2 of the time

[evilwillieg]

I've got a friends car that has a strange problem. It's a 1994 Camry and the rear brake lights don't work correctly.
With the lights off, the brake lights work like they're supposed to. If you turn the parking lamps on or the headlights on, the brake lights only come on if the brake is applied.
There are small running lights that come on when the lights are turned on but that's it.

The black box in the trunk that has something to do with the lights has been changed. The dealership suggested that this was the problem...it wasn't. I just checked the bulbs to make sure that they were the correct part. They are correct.

It acts like it's running with a single filament bulb when it needs a dual filament bulb. But, it is the correct bulb.

So, now I'm just stuck.

If anybody has any ideas or similar problems, I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks

[retiredat44]

has anyone changed any wiring, new stereo...etc??
if a new accessory is not wired correctly, it can cause problems..

[#2!]

Have you tried new bulbs (1157)? The lower wattage elements (parking lamp) could be burnt out.

Clean out the sockets

use a meter to check the voltage at the socket

[73sport]

Was ever wrecked in the arse?

Sounds like you lost a ground wire. When all the other lights are off it has a path to ground through the unpowered filliaments. When those lights are on. 12volts = 12volts and there is no path to ground so no bright light.

Toyo's are filled with relays. Swap them around even if they're the wrong value but the correct pin out, just to test things and then put them back.

Best guess is the rear was apart for some reason and the ground wire was either cut or unplugged.

Good Luck,

[evilwillieg]

Something did happen to the rear end. I'm not sure what it was but the light bar between the tail lights on 92-94 is not there. It's been replaced with the part from a 95-96. Where most of it is the same color as the car except for the backup lamps and reflectors.

And this car is a 94.

I've never had a reason to clean a socket. What should be used. Is there a cleaner specific for something like this?

As far as something new added to the car...there's been nothing added.

So first I'm gonna throw in some new 1157's
If not that, clean the socket and test the electricity it's getting and check the ground points.

Is there a Toyota Tech on here who could send me the wiring diagram from the repair manual?

Thanks you all for helping me this far.

[73sport]

If you have a hand held meter simply pull the bulbs and test the ground.

Touch a probe from the car body ground (a clean paint free location or known good ground point) to the inside of the light socket around the perimeter.

B'cuz the bulbs can work, means they are probably OK. But pull them, inspect the bulbs, inspect the sockets and test the ground of all suspect bulbs.

Readings for a good ground should be less than a few ohms. Like 0 - 5 ohms.

Don't know that you need to clean until you inspect.

[my name is joe]

In my experience my brake light failure sensor was faulty.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYOT...51910019r13481


Bought a new one and it was fine. Mechanic told me that this is a common problem with gen 4's. Which i believed because there were several other cars ironically on the same day with the same problem.

you can find this in trunk behind the panels.