2002 GCL - Turn Signals & Brake Lights
 

Passenger side Brake Light inoperable, Rear Passenger Turn Signal Inoperable - Bulbs replaced, still inoperable.

Driver Side Turn Signals Intermittent - When working, both front and rear are fine, other times, nothing. Weather doesn't seem to be a factor, and most of the time, once the car has been running for a bit they seem to work fine.

Emergency Flashers all work except for the Rear Passenger Side.

Recently Laid-Off so not much $$$ available to effect repairs - any ideas?

All help is appreciated.

Welcome to CF!

For the rear lights, look at the ground connections in the tail light bulb holders for melted plastic or broken wires in the harness. There seems to be a problem with heat from the brake light bulbs actually melting the sockets and loosing the connection, most of the time with cars that sit in traffic for long periods. Does the reverse light still work? You can swap the bulb holder for the brake light holder and see if it works. Then go to the junkyard and steal a bunch of them. They are all the same, its the circuitry that is different. One guy folded up a little piece of aluminum foil and stuck it under the contact to make it work.

I have the same problem with my driver's side turn signal. I've replaced the multifunction switch but didn't cure the problem. I think one of the female connectors in the switch plug has lost it's grip on the male pin. What I've done in the meantime is turn on the left turn signal, then the hazard flashers. When the dash lights come on, I turn off the hazards and the left signal will continue to flash. Also in the morning I turn it on and let it flash for a while before backing out of the driveway. It seems it will work all day after that. The bottom cover on the column is held on by one screw and the plug is right there. I'm going to try probing with a dental pick and see if I can close up some of them a little tighter.

I have had intermittent brake light problems. I either replaced the "socket" cheap fix, or lifted up the tabs on the sockets that make contact with the circuit board they fit in. They are thin and get forced down over time and lose contact.

I'm experiencing the same problem, but on the driver's side, except my turn signals work, but no other lights do. I've traced the problem to be the circuit board assembly that holds the bulbs, since none of the bulbs are bad, and the turn signals work. I'd recommend doing what I'm going to do, and grab a tail lamp from your local Pick 'N' Pull and putting that in instead of replacing the little circuit board assembly.