similar but different brake light problem

[240_of_pa]

89 240sx hatchbackok so i was driving yesterday when someone pulled up and told me that my brake lights were out (de ja vu for some of you). anyway i came home and i today i have been working to try and see what is going on with my lights. my combination lights work, my turn signals work, my side markers work, and license plate light work. its just the top mount light (red)and the stop lights (white) that are not working. i checked the wiring and it seems good, the sockets look clean, and i got new bulbs. though at the pedal, i did have to electrical tape a couple wires that had torn insulation. i need help please. i really dont need another ticket.

[trpower7]

Did you tape the wires all together in a bundle, with several wires that were frayed? That could cause shorting and not let them work. Also check fuses.

[240_of_pa]

no i taped them all individually. i looked for fuses but i don't know which fuses to look for.

[240_of_pa]

ok, do you mean the fuses in fuse box and engine comp? not to be silly but what do those fuses have to do with my stop lights? oh and my reverse lights(white) do work. its just the high mount light and the second element in the combination lights that don;t work. would a bad socket assembly cause the entire brake system to malfunction?

[trpower7]

Not likely. The fuse thing is a weird feature of Japanese cars, in alot of circumstances a fuse for something completely different will affect several things. Check EVERY fuse in the driver's side kick panel.

[240_of_pa]

it seems that you are the only person willing to help tr7, thanks. well it actually appears to be the stop lamp switch fuse in the fuse box after all. i don't know how i missed that before. anyway, it seems that a piece (prong a guess) of the fuse is jammed in there. i can't get it out because it looks like the assembly has collapsed or melted the fuse piece in there.