I got a notice from GM today on my Pontiac G6. Just an advisory and not a recall. Problem is that brake lights can go on without the brake pedal being pushed or brake lights can go off when the pedal is pushed. The notice said don’t take it to the dealer unless you suspect this as a problem.
Not being too paranoid but will certainly pay more attention but my question is how in the world I can normally see whether the brake lights are intermittently on or not? Even the third light in mounted in the trunk wing so can’t see anything. I know at night I can see the reflection in back of me but otherwise, I’m at a loss without wiring a pilot light or something.
I sometimes park at a business that has a plate glass window facing the parking lot. When I’m there at night and parked facing the window I use the reflection in the window to check the headlights lo and hi beam, the parking lights, and the turn signals. It’s all done and tested in like 15 seconds that way. If I thought there was something amiss w/the rear lights I’d just park facing the other way & use the same technique. I think if there was a problem, this would eventually catch it.
I don’t like the idea of no brake lights.
What I’d be tempted to do is to talk to some folks at a GM dealer or two (former Pontiac dealers) and find out what the exact culprit of these failures is. No doubt they’ve seen a few.
Then you could take the car in with a complaint of intermittent “backwards” brake lights and pay to have it fixed. Save the documents.
Then when this turns into a recall, GM will no doubt be reimbursing customers who had the problem taken care of, already. That’s how it usually goes down.
This beats a possible rear-end collision or a citation. CSA
EDIT: Addition
If the dealer won’t fix it because they can’t replicate the problem then have them write their “No Problem Found” on the Repair Order. You can show it to the police or use it to go after GM for any damages if need be. CSA
Obviously my approach has some limitations, but every once in a while I will apply the brakes before I start the engine and before I open the garage door. The brake lights reflect fairly well on the metal garage door.
