# Need help diagnosing brake light problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, lumina, brakes, lights\
**Created:** [June 24, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821 "2010-06-24T20:28:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lizlily7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lizlily7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lizlily7)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821/1 "2010-06-24T20:28:48Z")

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I have a 99 Chevy Lumina. When I use my blinker to turn left, the passenger brake light will not work. It works all other times except when the left blinker is on. I took it to a mechanic who checked the ground, the bulb, the circuit, and the switches. The problem persists. Any thoughts on what could be causing the problem.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821/2 "2010-06-24T20:31:25Z")

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The multifunction (turn signal) switch is a good suspect.

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**Author:** ![lizlily7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lizlily7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lizlily7)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821/3 "2010-06-24T20:34:53Z")

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He already took the old one off and put a new one in. It didn’t fix the problem.

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**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821/4 "2010-06-25T02:45:23Z")

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Mystery light problems in my experience usually are bad ground connections.

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**Author:** ![lizlily7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lizlily7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lizlily7)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821/5 "2010-06-25T03:10:29Z")

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My mechanic said he already checked the ground, cleaned up the bolt and still no luck on fixing the problem.

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**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-help-diagnosing-brake-light-problem/50821/6 "2010-06-25T03:19:23Z")

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There are many paths to ground, check them all, if all els fails try replaceing the offending light assembly.