Turn Signal and Brake Light Problem

[cstemm]

I am a new owner of a 90 Driftwood Reatta. I bought the car with a couple of problems. One was the dash I found a new one put it in and it worked fine. Another problem i had was with the lights in the back assembly. For some reason when the car lights are on and the brakes are applied only the third brake light comes on. the lights on the assembly don't light up at all, but when the car lights are off. The third light lights up as well as the passenger side series of lights comes on. The driver side lights never come on. Also when the turn signal are applied the lights stay on solid they never blink. I have no idea where to start with this problem. I looked at the fuses and the relays but still have no idea. I need some help please. Anything would be appreciated.Thanks

[89REATTAJIM]

#1: Welcome to a great forum, lots of good help here. #2: I'm not an expert on wiring, but suggest in this case that you make sure all of your brake, parking & turn signal bulbs are good. 1 or 2 out can kill turn signals. Good luck.

[Guest Albert]

it sounds like you have a bad ground in the back of the car, and when the headlights are off you are back feeding throught the parking lights, and headlights to get the brake lights to come on, try finding the ground lead at the socket, and ground it to the trunk latch and see what happens.

[jonlabree]

Also, I would check all of the bubls in the rear light.

[Barney Eaton]

If...the license lamp, and back up lamps are also not working, then it could be the ground splice or ground.

Otherwise it may be the turn signal switch.

There are relays for the right and left rear brake lights but if they were bad, you would still have rear lamps.