skinny brake light (on hatchback)

[SandW]

My 96 ZX gives me the "lamp-out" indicator on the dash whenever I depress the brake pedal. All my brake lamps work except appartently for the center bulb (1 of 3 I think) in the skinny high-mount brake light on the hatchback.

First, has anyone else experienced the lamp warning indicator for the a skinny lamp outage? If I wasn't such a freak I guess it wouldn't bother me. :-]

Second, I assume to access the bulbs you unscrew the two nuts just under the back of the hatch? They're about 2.5 to 3 feet apart from each other. Mine are rusted on their and I'll try some hairspray to get them loose (an old plumber trick someone taught me). But before I go thru the trouble and possibly cracking a screw I wanted to make sure it'll give me access.

Thanks!

[evilhomer]

I have the same issue. I think I saw on the forum here, it comes from using non-oem lights somewhere.

[gpelite]

I have the same issue. I think I saw on the forum here, it comes from using non-oem lights somewhere.

That can be a symptom if you are drawing too much on one wire, or you are using the wrong type of bulb. 10 to 1 the blub in the "3rd brake light", as it is most commonly referred to, needs to be replaced if you can visibly see it is out.

Yes those two screws hold the basis of it in, however there are more underneath.

WORD OF CAUTIONThat whole piece is EXTREMELY fragile, I cannot stress that enough. If you plan to remove it hold by the center only, never by the sides. .If you have to set it down make sure there is no tension on it. It will snap so fast it is crazy. I bought a new one after the last idiot who had my Z snapped it.

165 bucks, but its not faded either so its hot lookin good luck

[SandW]

I took my car to a Z shop for another issue and asked him about it. He said the NAs have 4 bulbs and the TTs have 3----what the heck?

Anyway, if that's the case I think I have 2 bulbs in the center burnt out from the way it lights-up. I think I'll leave it be until a third goes out in light of the sensitivity factor. As-is it looks fine at night and at least the lamp indicator will keep me glancing at the dash in case another sensor comes on or my gauges act up ;-)

In fact, I wish I could do the same thing on my wife's van so she'd pay attention to the dash gauges and lamps more often. She's been known to let a check engine light go for an undetermined amount of time---probably weeks ;-)

thanks!

[reptile28]

I have the same problem on mine, except I replaced all the bulbs and still get the "lamp out" warning light. I think it might have something to do with the fuse. Where is the fuse for the 3rd brake light?

[dbweb-z32]

My 96TT has 4 bulbs. Do not take the whole plastic strip off the back of your car or you will break it. All you have to do is remove three screws. The one on the small plastic piece round hatch catch and remove it then remove the two screws where the cargo cover hooks to the hatch and slide the the large piece of plastic forward and it will fall off. You should be able to see the gray ends of the bulbs then. The only time that i have had this problem when a bulb was not really out was when i switched to JDM rear lights and some thing about the JDM bulbs made the light come on. The fix was just as simple as using my old bulbs.

[reptile28]

none of my original bulbs worked, and im thinking it might have something to with the fuse, but i don't know which fuse it is.....

[reptile28]

Can anybody help me out?????

[dbweb-z32]

Can anybody help me out?????

If i remember right the fuse is in the bottom right side of the fuse and relay box in the engine compartment. But i think that if it is out all of your break lights would be out. Sorry its raining and I am too lazy to go out and look at my car right now. This info is for a 1996.

[reptile28]

well all of the lights are out, and whats the name on that diagram of the fuse that controls the hightmount?

[dbweb-z32]

Its the relay fuse box on the bottom of the picture. It is located in the front of the engine bay on the drivers side. The out side cover of it will say stop lamp over the fuse. I do not think that it is just for the hight mount but for all three brake lites.

[reptile28]

from what iv read there is a separate fuse for the highmount

[reptile28]

well i checked all the fused and none are bad..... so i searched around and found this http://www.zcar.com/forums/read/3/1942769 . Is anybody familiar with the module they are talking about, and what exactly is it called.

[reptile28]

well with a little messing around with that sensor, my highmount now works, but my warning light still appears when i use the brake, or when i turn on my lights....... What other light could go bad?

[dbweb-z32]

use this link to download a Factory Service Manual. there are lay outs of the whole electrical system in it, which will show you where all the sensors are.

zerothread/348623