Brake lights quit working
Tail lights acting insane?
We had the same issue with our 2000 Pontiac Montana. Brake lights, turn signal lights, running lights, back-up lights and emergency flasher didn’t work at all or operated at random. The cause: poorly designed aluminum contacts on the tail light circuit board and wiring harness connector arced over and disintegrated with normal use.
Pull the tail lamp assembly, remove the electrical connector and look for burned contacts on the connector plug and the connector socket (they call this long plastic piece with the socket the circuit board: it includes the four bulb sockets. Replace the circuit board and the wiring connector.
You can DIY this job with basic auto mechanical/electrical skills and tools. The two circuit boards and the two connectors set me back $230 (2009 cost) for new parts. The electrical contacts on the factory replacement parts are improved.
I needed a T-30 torx driver to remove the tail light assembly (you need this to change out bulbs, too), wire cutters, wire strippers, electrical tape and an electrical lug crimper to do the job.
×