1996 Corolla Third Brake Light

[BigTattoo]

I have a 1996 Toyota Corolla and was driving down the highway the other night when a police officer stopped me because my third brake light was on. Now, I do know that the brake light switch being stuck or bad would cause all of the break lights to stay on. Correct me if I'm wrong. It is only the third brake light, and it only stays on when the park lights are on. I'm sure it has to be a short someplace. I'm just curious if anyone would have an idea where the third brake light wires tie into the brake light wires/harness so that I can check between those spots for a short.

Also, I was curious if anyone knows the mileage that the timing belt should be replaced. It is the 1.8L. Thanks in advance.

BigTattoo

[Piloter]

Dunno about the brake light issue, but I think the mileage for the timing belt for the 93-97s is either 60K or 80K.

[94_Rolla_Guy]

I had the third brake light thing, it turned out to be one of the dual filliment bulbs in the tail lights. The filaments had shorted together and when the running lights were on the shorted fillaments would reverse feed 12V into the brake light circuit causing them to be on. To check this with the parking lights on take the dual filliment bulbs out one by one until the 3erd one goes out, then replace bulbs as nessesary also add some di-electric grease to the sockets to prevent corrosion

as for the timing belt every 96,000km or 60,000mi

[BigTattoo]

Thanks

[CraigW]

If it is not the bulbs as mentioned, check the ground circuit.

[BigTattoo]

Originally Posted by 94_Rolla_Guy

I had the third brake light thing, it turned out to be one of the dual filliment bulbs in the tail lights. The filaments had shorted together and when the running lights were on the shorted fillaments would reverse feed 12V into the brake light circuit causing them to be on. To check this with the parking lights on take the dual filliment bulbs out one by one until the 3erd one goes out, then replace bulbs as nessesary also add some di-electric grease to the sockets to prevent corrosion

as for the timing belt every 96,000km or 60,000mi

Rolla_Guy,
Thanks for the advice. It was indeed a problem with one of the brake light bulbs. It wasn't exactly the filament, but it was the brake light socket. It got hot and melted and the two prongs were touching each other, which it did exactly what you were saying but in a different way. Anyway, the problem is solved. It works great . Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

Thanks,
BigTattoo

[REN69]

Have you recently changed your brake light bulbs? you might have got the wrong bulb somewhere.