Brake lights don't work - only the top one in the car works

[parsecsam]

One day a friend told me my brake lights weren't working. I had disconnected the radio, but did not touch anything else. I reconnected the radio and the lights would not come on. I've checked all of the bulbs. the odd thing is that the brake light inside and up on the shelf does work.

[maxnix]

Check sockets an wiring also after checking the fuse.

Bulbs must be OEM Toshiba or Sylvania LL.

[carfrk666]

i had this problem, where the truck latches to the car, underneith that pannel there is a Brake Light Switch, that has gone bad, i blew mine out because of the sterio i had grouned in the wrong place and it melted the connection and then melted the solder on one of the wires inside the module itself, check that out, take it apart let me know what you see

[goody90q45]

....I've checked all of the bulbs. the odd thing is that the brake light inside and up on the shelf does work.

Hey Sam. Welcome back. How's the Q running with a new fuel pump and controller?

The sockets Maxnix refers to are in the brake lamp modules. It's the 2 dual filament bulbs on the 90-93 that get hot and melt through the sockets in the module and also scorch and harden the wires. Take another look at each of the modules again with the bulbs removed. If there's any melting or brittle wires you may have to replace the module(s). Also look at the bulb bases for signs of melting of the contacts. Replace with Sylvania Long Life only. Finally, check fuses in the engine compartment and passenger compartment. Good luck.

[parsecsam]

Hi Mike: I was hoping I would hear from you guys. I moved back to LA, actually Glendale. The Q is still with me, or I am with it. I drive it often(short runs), and it made it to Glendale. Do have a few problems and should have come to this thread sooner, but with moving and everything else I didn't make it. On Monday I drove some friends to the airport and the person in the back seat noticed strong gas fumes. I always drive with the window down and the top open so I never noticed it. The car gasps for air when I first start driving it, then it seems alright when it warms up, unless I have to accelerate. I was so grateful for what your Huntington Beach friend did that I never wanted to say anything. He did me a great service and I appreciate it. Hope you had a good holiday season and best wishes for the New Year. Sam

[goody90q45]

I know you had a fuel pump installed so you should probably sniff around in the trunk for the source of the odors. It could be a leaky fuel pump gasket. Also sniff around the rear speaker area and inside the storage box which is directly above the fuel pump. If you're ambitious and own a screwdriver the trim in the trunk can be removed for closer inspection.

If you don't smell anything coming from the gas tank then you're going to have to break out a flashlight and with the engine running but cold look at all the fuel hoses under the intake manifold for leaks. Just follow the lines from the fuel filter to each injector back to the rear of the intake where most leaks are found.

[parsecsam]

Thanks MIke: You were right. The seal on the gas tank needed replaced. There were some bad wires on the brake lights. No more gas fumes and the brake lights work. The fuel pump checks low in pressure, thus slow acceleration. Do you have any fuel pumps laying around for an Infinity 1990 Q45? What is that electrical unit that controls the gas pump? that may need replacing. Also, it may need another catalytic converter.One other question. When the notice lights up, telling you your brake pads are Low, how many miles can a conservative (I don't mean Republican.) driver go before he needs to replace the pads?My fixed income can't take to much at one time.
Modified by parsecsam at 4:42 PM 1/8/2009

[goody90q45]

It sounds like you need a fuel pump and a fuel pump control unit. Any units from a 90-96 will work for you but I have neither. Take a look in the Infiniti parts forum and keep an eye out on Craigslist. Be warned that buying anything other than new is a crapshoot but at over $1000 for new parts it may be worth the risk.

I'm not certain about remaining pad life but it will depend on your type of driving. Freeway, stop and go, surface streets? You should probably be thinking about new pads and sensors in the next month and it wouldn't be a bad idea to remove one or both of the passenger side wheels (where the sensors are) to verify the pad thickness and avoid destroying the rotors.

[maxnix]

The brake warning is really stating you waited too long.

One must understand thermal transfer through the reduced pad mass to the caliper pistons and the fluid. There is nothing to gain and much to risk by running them to the plates.

The fuel pump is a wear item and needs to be replaced with new. Get pads (and shim kit?), pump, O ring and OEM filters from IoS

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com

Call them.

Read Tangalora's excellent posts in IOM to replace the fuel pump yourself.

Then check fuel pressures after the new filter to determine if your car requires a FPCU also. YOu can also examine the FPCU for internal and external burn marks if you have been running a bad fuel pump for a long time.