I had the same problem with my car and it was the Turn Signal Switch. I had to buy the part from an olds dealer and that was about $150. Then took it to a garage to get the part installed. I havent had any more problems with my brakelights since.
I wouldnt recommend trying to do the job yourself simply because of having an airbag in the steering wheel. My mechanic spent a bit of time taking repairing it.I wouldnt recommend trying to do the job yourself simply because of having an airbag in the steering wheel. My mechanic spent a bit of time taking repairing it.
If the problem is not a fuse, check this: Troubleshoot your lights Fixing lights can be difficult:
You have a tail or brake light that doesn't work, but you replaced the bulb and no change. You'll have to troubleshoot, so buy a simple volt/ohm meter.
Be sure the power is off and no power on any of the socket pins. Then clean the light socket and connection pins with a stiff brush or steel wool.
First, measure all the light socket pins for power. If you don't see any voltage, must be a fuse out or a broken wire or you aren't getting a good solid ground reference. Turn power off and make sure the socket ground is really ground by using the ohmmeter between the socket ground and a known good ground. If the ohmmeter reading is 1 or 2 ohms the socket is probably good. If the ohmmeter measures higher, then the ground connection is bad or ground wire is broken. Try to trace the ground wire, run your own wire if you have to. Once the the socket ground measures ok, then you have to determine which hot pin is bad. There are two hot pins, one for each filament, tail and stop light. Pick one and measure the voltage referenced to the, now good, socket ground. You should have power now, so try a bulb in the socket.
Answers & Comments
I had the same problem with my car and it was the Turn Signal Switch. I had to buy the part from an olds dealer and that was about $150. Then took it to a garage to get the part installed. I havent had any more problems with my brakelights since.
I wouldnt recommend trying to do the job yourself simply because of having an airbag in the steering wheel. My mechanic spent a bit of time taking repairing it.
If the problem is not a fuse, check this:
Troubleshoot your lights
Fixing lights can be difficult:
You have a tail or brake light that doesn't work, but you replaced the bulb and no change. You'll have to troubleshoot, so buy a simple volt/ohm meter.
Be sure the power is off and no power on any of the socket pins. Then clean the light socket and connection pins with a stiff brush or steel wool.
First, measure all the light socket pins for power. If you don't see any voltage, must be a fuse out or a broken wire or you aren't getting a good solid ground reference.
Turn power off and make sure the socket ground is really ground by using the ohmmeter between the socket ground and a known good ground. If the ohmmeter reading is 1 or 2 ohms the socket is probably good. If the ohmmeter measures higher, then the ground connection is bad or ground wire is broken. Try to trace the ground wire, run your own wire if you have to.
Once the the socket ground measures ok, then you have to determine which hot pin is bad.
There are two hot pins, one for each filament, tail and stop light.
Pick one and measure the voltage referenced to the, now good, socket ground.
You should have power now, so try a bulb in the socket.