Rear lights not working outside of brake and turn signal. believe it is the fuse but unable to locate the fuse box -- instructions states under the instrument panel to the left of steering wheel -- cannot tell if all I see under is anywhere associated with the fuse box

The turn signals at the rear share the same bulb, same filament on the bulb even, as the brake lights. So if you have brake lights, the rear turn signal bulbs are good. If I recall, you access the rear bulbs from inside the trunk, and pretty easy to change bulbs. Look for a panel or trim piece in the trunk that covers the light bulb assemblies. You turn the bulb sockets a quarter turn counter-clockwise and pull them out, then you can replace the bulbs. They are two filament bulbs-one filament for the park lights (tail lights) and one filament that serves for brakes and turn signals together.
The flasher unit is a small round cylinder, I don't believe it was in the fuse box, but located up under the dash, close to the steering column. The hazard flasher unit was also up under there and looks the same. Look for them on a bracket near or by the steering column, possibly one on each side of the steering column To find the turn flasher, turn your hazard switch on. The little round unit that is clicking-you may hear it or feel it click with your finger on it-is the hazard flasher. The turn flasher will be the one that is not clicking. A little round cylinder is how you identify it.

There are three fuses involved.
There is a 25 amp fuse before the brake switch located in the fuse box under the hood. Then there are two 15amp fuses after the brake switch in the box inside the cabin. One is for the lower brake lights and the other is for the high mount light and the trailer connector.
You would need to know if the 15amp fuse for the lower lights has power when the brake pedal switch is applied.

There is a fuse box under the hood that has the fuses that control the wire harness. There are at least 2 boxes, mine were on the drivers side wheel well near the rear of the engine compartment.

Turn signal tail lights and BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING

It can be faulty brake light switch causing the problem or its blown brake light bulb. First check and confirm brake light lamp is working and that's not the case.

For turn signal not working it can be faulty turn signal switch or its issue with wiring:----

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To trouble shoot brake and turn signal related problem, check the help links mentioned below:-----

Click the link:----
1996 Buick Regal Grand Sport Brake light Switch Location? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/1996-buick-regal-gran-sport-brake-light.html

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No brake lights on Buick? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/no-brake-lights-on-buick.html

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Brake lights not working on 1989 BUICK REGAL?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/brake-lights-not-working-on-1989-buick.html

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How to replace Brake light switch on Chevrolet Tahoe?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-replace-brake-light-switch-on.html

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How to replace Parking, turn, and Brake Lights on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-replace-parking-turn-and-brake.html

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Upper brake lights work, but low brake light not working?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/upper-brake-lights-workbut-low.html

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1997 Cadillac Catera: How to replace Brake Light Switch?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/1997-cadillac-catera-how-to-replace.html

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2003 Chevrolet S10 Tail light Fuse http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/11/2003-chevrolet-s10-tail-light-fuse.html

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Chevrolet Parking light and Tail lamp light Wiring diagram http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/11/chevrolet-parking-light-and-tail-lamp.html

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Car Tail Lights Not Working?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-tail-lights-not-working.html

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Turn Signal Not working http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/11/turn-signal-not-working.html

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Right turn signal not working on Pontiac Car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/right-turn-signal-not-working-on.html

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Only one side indicator light working on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/only-one-side-indicator-light-working.html

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Turn signals not working on 1987 Jeep Wagoneer? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/turn-signals-not-working-on-1987-jeep.html

1996 Chrysler LHS brake light circuit wiring diagram?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/1996-chrysler-lhs-brake-light-circuit.html

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How to replace rear Brake lights on 2004 Toyota RAV4? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-replace-rear-brake-lights-on.html

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One brake light on driver side not working, but other lights work?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/one-brake-light-on-driver-side-not.html

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2002 Lincoln Town car Fuse Box http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/11/2002-lincoln-town-car-fuse-box.html 2007 KIA Rio: Brake Light Fuse Box Diagram?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-kia-rio-brake-light-fuse-box.html

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Overhead Brake lights not working on 1999 GMC Sierra 4x4?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/overhead-brake-lights-not-working-on.html

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2004 Ford Mustang: Brake light Fuse Location?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/2004-ford-mustang-brake-light-fuse.html

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These will help.

Thanks.

Have yoiu changed/checled the lightbulbs? (In other words,do your turn signal lights work? If the front turn signal lights work, but the rear don't, then turn on your four (4) way flashers. If the rear lights still don't work, then all the bulbs are bad. It is rare for all the bulbs to be burnt out at the same time, but it does happen.

If the turn signal/four way flasher lights work, then you probably have a bad brake light switch. However, first check your owner's manual to make certain there is not a separate fuse for these lights. If there is, then swap the fuse for the brake lights for another fuse (or relay) of the same size/amperage. (Facing the hood, the power relay box is located on the right side (usually) under the hood.)

The fuse box is located under the dash, on the driver's side of the car. Usually there is a plastic cover that has to be removed to access the underside of the dash, and then there is a plastic cover that has to be removed to access the fuse box. If you don't have an owner's manual, nprmally the fuses and power relays are normally marked on the plastic covers your remove ot access the fuses and power relays.

If the fuses/relays are good, then you have a bad brake light switch. This is located on a bracket just above the brake pedal. When you push the pedal down, the switch makes contact. Disconnect the plug to the switch, and jump across the plug contacts (not the switch) with a small piece of wire, or if a piece of insulated wire is unavailable, you can use a paperclip, you won't get schocked, just make certain that the paperclip does not come in contact with a ground while you have it plugged in to the plug for the brake light switch.

If the lights stil dont work, check for power to the plug for the brake light switch. If you have power to the plug, the turn signals and four-way flashers work, then my guess would be that you have a broken power wire (probably iside the steering column, or a bad turn signal switch. If the brake lights work whe nyou jump out the brake light switch, then the brake light switch is defective.

Fuse number 7 (15A, Horn Stop) in the under hood box should be your brake lights. If you are referring to your high mount brake light as the third light, I believe they work on the same fuse.
I would check the bulbs, although it may not be likely that both would go at the same time. There are three bulbs in the unit: brake/taillight, turn signal, and backup.
The units themselves come out pretty easy. Just remove the two phillip's head screws and pull the unit back to get it out. Then turn sockets 1/4 turn and out to check the bulbs. Bulbs pull straight out.
Hope this helps you.

Did you actually check the bulbs? I believe your brake lights, signal lights, hazards all use the same bulb for each side.

Your brake lights may be your brake switch just above your brake pedal.
The signals could be your electronic flasher module (EFM) located under the dash near the steering column.
Your hazards may be affected by the EFM, but not likely and the switch for your hazards may be faulty

check switch on break pedal

Your flasher unit is beginning to fail. Hazards and turn signals are separate units. It will cost you the cost of the part, and an investment in time to find the old unit, it will unplug.

Look under the dash, and at the fuse box, it could be either location. Your ears will be helpful