brake lamp idiot light illuminates AFTER installing new bulb?
 

Last night I replaced my tail lights with some nice factory lights I got off of another car (EUDM 1982 SA) and noticed that one bulb wasn't illuminating with just the lights on (not touching the brake pedal). I stopped by the auto parts store today, bought some replacement bulbs, and replaced the light. It still does not illuminate when I have the lights on (not touching the brake pedal), but it does illuminate with the brake pedal depressed (as did the old light). With this one bulb in place, I now get the "brake lamp" idiot light illuminating on my dashboard. What could be causing this? Also, what could be causing the normal light to not illuminate? Wiring maybe?

The car that I removed the lights from only has 76k miles.

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If I get this correct:

Brake lights do not work when headlights are on, but brake lights work when brakes applied?


If that is the case check your brake switch, or brake light relay, whichever you call it.

Hope this helps as well:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ht=brake+light

If I have the lights on, 3/4 of the bulbs in the red areas are illuminated. When I step on the brakes, 4/4 of the brake lights illuminate. When I step on my brakes, the idiot light turns on.

are you sure you got the right bulb? some are wired differently and can cause that.

I think so. The old bulb did the same thing, but it didn't trip the idiot light.

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i have the same prob with the brake lamp light but all my bulbs work. ive had ppl say that it could be just a bad ground. i haven't checked but it's one of a few things i can live with. i just don't pay it any attention. but do make sure u used the right bulb. the one u need has 2 elements in it. also check the receptical for +12v to both buttons in the botton of it. the side is ground.

Check the socket of the bad bulb and make sure it is clean. Also check the wiring to the socket for damage or shorts.

The 'STOP LAMP' light normally comes on with a burned out bulb when you press the brakes. However, it can come on when it thinks there is a bad bulb (LED bulbs, bulb partially working, etc.). If there the current draw is less than expected, that light will come on as it thinks there is a burned out bulb.

It has to be something with that socket or related wiring (assuming you got the correct bulb).

What Kent said.

Also, I just had a similar problem with my 85 GSL yesterday. It looked like all my tail lights were working - when the running lights were on I had tail lights on both sides and when I put on the brakes I got brake lights lighting up on both sides. But when I put on the brakes I still got a brake light idiot warning saying a light was out.

I was thinking wiring or something weird, but when I took a closer look at the tail light bulbs I discovered that there are TWO brake lights on each side that need to be working, both with double filament bulbs. Only one of the brake light filaments had burned out, but that was enough to fire the idiot light (which turns out not to be such an idiot after all).

I replaced the bad bulb and everything was fine.

well all 4 of mine light up really bright(pulled them all out of the lenses) with the brake pedal and i still get the light on the dash. maybe i'll take them all out of the sockets and check for crud.