I have a 1998 oldsmoble Cutlass the brake lights are not working. The back dash is working only. Ihave no other issues with them but this one. Also my horn started going of in the cold morning hours waking me and everone in the neighborhood. I had to unplug the battery cable to shut it off. I was not driving the car at the time because the engine was bad and i was repacing the engine. It was parked for about 6 months when this happened. Can anyone help me with these issues?
I’m going to guess…“back dash is working”…this refers to the high center brake light?
No brake lights: Check fuses first.
Remove and clean bulb contacts in sockets and on bulbs.
Replace the bulbs making sure they are installed the correct way. (It’s easy to have them turned 180 deg. and pushed in)
If they still won’t work, remove the bulbs and test the sockets for 12V with a continuity tester with the key ON and the brake pedal depressed.
If the high centered brake light works, there won’t be a faulty brake light switch.
The horn activating in the morning MAY be due to moisture getting into a switch or wire connector causing a short.
Another possibility may be from a faulty clockspring in the steering wheel touching the horn contact when the spring is fully contracted.
Might be easier to pull the horn relay/fuse instead of the battery cable.