1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Kevin,
I would suspect that the tail light bulb has a brake light filament burnt out. In some spots, 2-filament bulbs are used (on many cars).
On a 3-door (or "2 door hatch") you should normally have 4 tail lights on (2 outer--on fenders--and 2 inner, on hatch lid) when parking lights or headlights are on (brakes off). These are 4 in a row, bottom of tail light clusters.
With brakes applied, you should still have the HATCH'S tail lights lit up dimly (they are single filament bulbs), but former taillights on rear fenders switch current to other, brighter filament in bulb (2 filaments in those bulbs), for brake lights AND hatch's upper red lights (brake only) now illuminate (these bulbs have bright filaments only). Also, 1986 and newer 900s have so-called "Third" brake light or Center-High-Mount Stop Light (CHMSL), a US gov't mandatory thing on all passenger cars of that vintage and newer.
If a tail light goes out when brakes applied, then THAT bulb's higher power (brighter) filament is burnt out. Brake light circuit is trying to send current to the bulb's bright filament but, since that filament is broken (burnt out), no light occurs. Make sense?
Here's a silly little diagram, if it comes through:
KEY TO DIAGRAM:
* (asterisk) stands for tail light
# (number symbol) is brake light
DIAGRAM:
** ** = 4 taillights, brakes off
-------------------------------------------
#<------ ("3rd" brake light, makes 5, brakes on)
# #<------(2 upper brake lights on hatch)
#* *#<-----(2 outer brake lights on fenders, 2 inner tail lights on hatch)
= 5 brake lights (if '86-up) and 2 tail lights WHEN BRAKES ARE ON
I hope this helps. Sounds like you just need a Torx screwdriver and a bulb or two.
Micah in NC
'84 900S, 219K mi., 3-door
'90 900, 67K mi. (Mom's) 3-door
posted by 216.77.232...
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