stop/brake lights 96 corolla

[NotaMechanic]

Here's the situation...1996 Corolla (base model). The secondary (top) stop light comes on when braking, but the stop lights in the tail lights do not (both sides). All bulbs appear to work--for example, when the headlights are turned on, all 4 bulbs have one filament burning.

I cannot get under the dash and see a brake switch--too crowded and dark and I'm not a mechanic, but would the secondary stop light work if the brake switch was broken?

If not, then what would I look at for why the taillight brake lights are not coming on?

Any help appreciated.

Not a Mechanic...

[CraigW]

They are all on the same switch. It is possible you have a broken wire. You could tap into the 3rd brake light leads and run a line down to the others that are inoperative. It is possible to have 2 bad bulbs, I would rule that out first.

[karugs]

Originally Posted by NotaMechanic

all 4 bulbs have one filament burning.

I believe that two of them should have double filament bulbs, and two are single filament bulbs. Pull out the bulbs for the taillight and stop light. You should have a pair of double filament bulbs, and a pair of single filament bulbs, if memory serves me right. If all are single filament bulbs, two of them are not working properly. Hence you only see the taillights.

[Ukrainian102]

There are 2 brake bulbs in each tail light, I'm pretty sure both should be double filament. They both light up brighter when the brake is pressed.