Reverse Light shorted to Brake Light?

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pengu1n

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When I put my 99 Montana in Reverse with my foot on the brake, the dashboard turn signal indicators (both left turn arrow and right turn arrow) dimly glow. When I let off the brake they go off. This doesn't happen unless the car is in Reverse.

I suspect a short between the reverse lights and the brake lights. I previously had issues with the turn signals not working and cleaning the corrosion on the rear driver side pig tail fixed it.

Will doing the same on the passenger side fix this issue? I'll try it anyway of course, but I'm looking for additional possibilities. I have read about the brake pedal switch, I'll look at that too.

Thank you.
 
It sounds like a bad ground which you already indicate has happened in the past.
 
If I wanted to check for a grounding problem, how do I do it?

If I want to add more ground lines, how is that done?

Thanks
 
You stated you found the pigtail on the drivers side and cleaned it, you dont see another one on the passenger side?
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I know how to clean up the passenger side, similar to the driver side. Not really what I meant.

I should have asked how to beef up the ground lines on the vehicle. Like should I run some new wires from the battery negative to the back of the vehicle and if so where to attach - (right into the pigtails probably). Or is there another central ground point in the back of the vehicle that could be tied in.

If this is a bad idea just say so.

Thanks
 
Just make sure all the connections are clean and corrosion free ,then re check your lights I think that will fix it ,if not report back
 
Okay, I have narrowed down the problem some. I cleaned the contacts on the passenger side (they looked fine) and that did nothing. So I cleaned the driver side again (just did it 10 months ago) and now my blinker and reverse lights are working correctly. But still no brake lights...

I looked at the brake pedal where the piston for the switch contacts the brake pedal arm. There are three connectors on that piston assembly. Two have two wires, and one has four wires. I see that one of these two wire switches "shorts" when the brake pedal is depressed quite a bit such that the piston is fully out. How do I diagnose from here? I have a volt meter and can check for DC and resistance. I'll search for other posts on the brake light switch as well. Haven't really looked into that yet.

The four way flashers work, all bulbs are good. Could it be a fuse?

Thanks.
 
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I was going to ask if the bulbs were good but that seems to easy and you already confirmed that , I guess your middle high brake light is not working also ? If thats the case I would look at the brake switch , not sure if you can just short those wires out or if they go through some bcm ??? I guess you could use a meter to see whats going on . Have you ever checked for voltage at the socket ?
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The top center brake light is dead. No I haven't checked voltage at the socket. Is there a good thread on the brake switch already? Thanks.
 
It burns the STOP LIGHT 15A fuse every time I hit the brakes. So a short somewhere? How do I troubleshoot that?
What are the brake wire colors at that tail light?
White
Black
Brown
Yellow
Green

Thanks.
 
I know this is an old post but I wanted to check if the problem was fixed. I'm having the same issue. All lights work except the stop(brake) lights including the third, high brake light. When I put a new fuse in and press the brake pedal, the lights dim and then the fuse blows. Any ideas where to start? I'm not sure where grounds are located to check them. Any suggestions?
 
A bad ground doesnt cause a fuse to blow. Disconnect one lamp at a time and see if the fuse still blows.
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Also I remember someone saying that the wiring harness goes under the carpet by the passengers feet and have found problems there ?
 
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