97 Pathfinder tail lights & brake lights indistinguishable

[ivanho56]

Hello all -

I am at my wits end - I cannot figure out how to fix my pathfinder tail lights and brake lights. Brake lights work fine - when headlights & tail lights are off. However, when I turn on the headlights - then i can't tell the difference between tail lights and brake lights... it's as if the brake lights are on constantly (but not really, you CAN tell the difference if looking closely).

I have checked the fuses in the car and haven't found anything - plus circuits are being completed, so this wouldn't make sense to me anyway. I also replaced the brake light switch @ the pedal - nothing changed.

Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[PathyPop]

That's strange. It sounds like your brake light and tail light connections are switched or more likely the wrong bulb is used. Did you replace your bulbs recently? The brake light should be more than twice as bright as the tail light when headlights are on. I assume your high-center brake light is working correctly? Your bulb is a "MIN10163" and I don't think you can insert them backwards (connectors switched). It's a two filament bulb, but maybe someone put a wrong single filament bulb in as I think they can fit.

I'd buy two new MIN10163 bulbs for a couple bucks and see it that works. Very dangerous to drive that way at night since other drivers will barely notice your brake lights are on when you slow down.

[ivanho56]

Thanks for the idea - I will pursue that avenue. The high-center brake light seems to stay on when headlights are on as well. And when brakes are hit - the high-center light gets a bit brighter, but very hard to tell at dusk & even at night.

[Rockwood]

Another thing to check is your grounds - measure ohms resistance from the bulb sockets to ground. I remember a similar thread where the high center brake light was involved and I believe it was bad grounds in that case. Current was finding the path of least resistance.