Brake light question

[skeelo58]

Now before I ask this stupid question (trust me, it is stupid and I can't believe I am asking it), let me say that I have owned my Grand Prix for 6 years, and never really paid attention to what I am about to ask.

So last week, I was sitting at a stop light, and some random guy got out of his car and came and knocked on my window to tell me my brake lights were out. When I got home, it was night, so obviously my tail lights were on as well.... I had someone tap the brakes, and the top brake light came on, but the two tail lights just stayed illuminated the same, and did not brighten up, like I have seen on other cars.

So, now my stupid question is this..... Are our tail lights supposed to get brighter when you hit the brakes as well? Or is it just supposed to be the top brake light?

[Scottydoggs]

check your fuse box for a blown fuse, the lights should get twice as bright when you hit the brakes if the tail lights are on when dark,(both sides) if the fuses are good check the bulbs.

another question, are you directional's blinking double fast? if so its the bulbs or maybe a flasher is dead.

and another, do the brake lights work when the head lights are not on?

[Spencerad4]

*Face Palm*

It is only legal if you have a brake light on both side of the vehicle..

[Zef_66]

First thing is to check your bulbs. Could have blown the brake light in both bulbs.

[skeelo58]

So I went and checked my lights a little bit ago. There are 3 lights in each tail light. The outermost light bulb on both sides are burnt out, so I will be replacing those. The middle light on both sides works as a tail light, and a turn signal. No matter what I did though, hit the brakes, turn signal, etc, nothing would get the inner most light bulb to light up. The bulbs themselves don't appear to be burnt out at all. What is the purpose of the inner most light?

Oh, and I also figured out that my Hazard light switch is stuck in the up (off) position. I can't get that damn thing to press down at all. Weird, considering I just used them like 3 weeks ago.

[Scottydoggs]

back up lights? i drive a regal but that's all that's left.
turn the key to on, dont start it, put on e brake, shift car to reverse, see if they light up.

[skeelo58]

K, I will try that..... Will report back in 5 minutes :P

Now that I am reading into it, it appears a stuck Hazard switch means a multi-function switch is out?

[skeelo58]

You were right, those were the reverse lights :P Ha I feel like such an idiot. My next step will be to replace the burnt out lights. If that doesn't work, then it looks like I have a broken multi-function switch from the sounds of it.

[Scottydoggs]

if the back brake lights are burnt the directional's should be flashing double fast.

thats how you know you have a brake or directional light out.

see if they slow down after the new bulbs are installed.

[skeelo58]

Well, I got the new lights put in, but I still don't have any brake lights. I'm pretty sure it is the multi-function switch that is causing this problem, as I cannot press the Hazard switch at all. Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to replace it?