Lights wont retract unless brake depressed

[krazy skwerel]

Ok I have searched for about 30 min. and can't find anything. My pop up lights will not go down until my foot is off the brake. Also my brake lights are appearantly non existant aside from the 3rd light. I replaced the bulbs recently. Anybody had a problem like this? If so how do you fix it.

[GroundZero]

sound's like you have a short in the electrical system somwhere, either that or a couple bad relays. how long have you had that car and how long has it been doing this?

[krazy skwerel]

I've had this car (89 coupe) for about 9 months now. Only started it recently. Although to get the lights to raise up I have to flick the brights. Then I turn the knob and they stay up. It's always had that problem. My 90 never gave me this problem though.

[topless@vabeach]

Pull all your tail light bulbs out. Then try it. If it works then insert each bulb one at a time and see what happens. Sounds like you have a bad wire causing a load on the system

[krazy skwerel]

Perhaps. My car just seems to be getting worse and worse. My seat belt is messed up know. Anyways yeah we got the brake lights back but the headlight thing is still messed up.

[topless@vabeach]

When you push the button that brings the lights up without turning on the lights- does that work? Do not start the car just turn the key and try that. It might be something as simple as the switch inside your steering colum. I was told that the wires sometime come loose there. I never saw it but its on our list of things to check.

[krazy skwerel]

It has to be a wire crossed with the headlight motors. Because I can raise the lights with the button, but if I try to lower them while holding the brake they wont go down until I release the brake. When I let the brake go they retract just fine.

[topless@vabeach]

Check the break pedal relay. One of my techs said he had a problem with his probe where his windshield wipers would stop everytime he stepped on the break pedal. Turned out that the relay was going bad causing a load on the system, taking power away from the wipers.

One more question, once you have the lights in the up position, can you turn them on and off. Do they flicker at all when you step on the break pedal. I havent traced out the lighting and motor circuits so I do not know if they are tied together at all when it comes to power.

[krazy skwerel]

The lights don't flicker and can be turned on and off.

[krazy skwerel]

Well seems nearly all my problems were in connection to three grounds in my tail light assembly. I tightened them and the lights started working right, also I got back my tail lights and brake lights.