Ok so im a new member and I have very little experiance with cars...I know this is a camaro forum but my 96 Firebird is should be almost exactly the same...I noticed that my Brake lights work but whenever the brake is applied it doesnt brighten to let others know im pressing the brake only the third one works properly...all the lights work whenever I turn them on just they dont light up when the brake is applied...So I checked the fuses and all of them were fine so I figured it was the brake light switch but I dont want to buy it and it not be the problem so I was wondering if you people could diagnose the problem so I can get it fixed

 

i had the same problem. just get new bulbs or go to a junk yard and rip of some old break light sockets.

 

but its very unlikely that both taillights would go out at the same time...so could it just be sockets

 

So, your brake lights work and they are just not bright???? Or only the third brake light works and the tail brake lights do not????

 

Uhm the second one...the tail lights wont light up when the brake is applied but the third one does whenevr I push the brake...so yea I have only 1 work brake light

 

Seriously someone help!!!

 

Please don't force your post back to the top after waiting only 41 minutes. The guideline is to wait at least 24 hours before putting your post back on top.

If the "third" brake light (CHMSL) is working, the brake switch is working. So that's not the problem. Its been suggested that it might be the bulbs. Have you checked them? Your Firebird has two brake light bulbs on each side, so you need to check all four. Yes, its possible for them all to burn out simultaneously, but not likely. You still need to check them.

The difference between the CHMSL and the taillight assembly mounted brake lights is that the CHMSL is fed dierectly from the brake switch. But the others are fed from the brake switch through the turn/hazzard switch assembly. So that is where the problem may be.

 

it seams like its the sockets, at a junk yard you can pull off about 10 of them for about $10-$15. or this http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...252033k1217430

 

well that doesnt sound so easy for me to fix so should I take it to a mechanic?! Im talking about the turn/hazard assembly cause I don't know how to fix that

 

Did you check the bulbs? Did you check the sockets?

 

by the way your talking...yes...yes you should take it to a mechanic.