Brake lights

[Cujo]

i have a 95 YJ and i change my brake lights about everymonth. I have checked to make sure the whole thing is water tight and it is, but i am still blowing lights out. mostly my drivers side one. when i have my lights on and i hit the brake you can barely see the light glow, but when i have the lights off and i hit the brake lights, they go on but in a dim way. Anyone know of anything could be wrong, or have somthing simlair happen to theirs? Thanks - Brad

[XJNick]

Hi,

Sounds to me like your brake lights are either:

1) shorting to ground
2) lacking a good ground and grounding out through the parking light circuit
3) shorting to the parking light circuit.
4) have bad or corroded sockets/

I've had a similar thing happen with lights on the front of my cherokee. Look at the bulb sockets. Are the pins corroded? if so, new sockets are in order. If not, You need to whip out the voltmeter and measure the voltage you are getting at the tail lights in each situation.

Have you ever seen the parking lights glow dim when you hit the brakes (with headlamp switch OFF)? I really think it sounds like scenario 2 is the closest to what you are describing.

-Nick