1997 lumina break light in back window works all park and signals work but no rear break lights is it a fuse

This will either be a fuse or the brake light switch which is on the pedal it's self. More likely the switch as these are fickle at best.

sounds like you have a bad turn signal switch.

If the third brake light is working than we know the fuse is good and the switch is good. The third brake light bypasses the turn signal switch. If the rear turn signals are working than we also know that the wiring from the switch to the rear bulbs is also good. The brake lights and the turn signals are on the same bulb so the turn signal switch is what determines if the bulb gets power from the brake light switch or from the turn signal flasher. If the switch is bad usually the first thing that stops working is the brake lights.

Typically you can wiggle, jiggle, pull, push on the switch lever with you foot on the brake and get the brake lights to work. Sometimes turning the four way on and off several times will also get the brake lights to work. If this is the case than a new turn signal switch will solve you problem.

If you have any questions let me know!

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i am CONFUSED? you say they dont work, then you say "when you press down on the brake that the switch for the lights causes them to go off instead of turning them on when messing around with it but couldnt figure this out"........ if NO brake lights work, then check fuse 23. . if the fuse is GOOD then check wires at the brake switch. Orange should have 12V, when brake pedal is pressed then the WHITE should have 12V and lights should be on. the center rmounted stop light (BACK WINDOW) has 2 bulbs, make sure they are good. The center light is wired differently. If the center light works but brake lights do not, the turn signal switch could be bad. I assume THE TURN SIGNALS are OK? IF the turn signals are working OK, the wiring between the turn signal switch and the brake lights is GOOD

here is howw it goes, the power from the fuse goes to the brake switch then to the signal light switch and from there to the rear lights, test for signal from the brake switch to the turn signal, if good the signal switch is bad

If you have already check fuses, and brake light's still don't work, it's going to be your turn signal switch, the brake light circit runs thought the brake light switch, if your car has a middle top brake light in back of rear window, most of the time that one will still work, and the turn signal will also work, but not the rear ones brake light's, when turn signal switch is bad, hope this was very helpful.

All you need is a new brake light switch which is mounted by the brake pedal

yOU WILL HAVE TO PLACE THE sWITCH IN THE STEARING COLUME IT COST ABOUT 90 DOLLARS.

The brake light in the rear window and the main brake lights are on a different circuit. After the signal leaves the activating switch on the brake pedal arm, it splits. One circuit goes straight to the high mount brake light, the other goes into the turn signal switch. If the rear turn signals work but the brake lights don't, suspect the turn signal switch, not the bulbs and wires. Better to check this before removing and checking bulbs, wires and fuses. It is a common problem with the W-body cars like Lumina, Monte Carlo, Buick Regal, Olds Cutlass and Pontiac Grand Prix. (Approx 94-99 models). Part number is GM 190005031 (w/o radio accessory control) or 19005032 (with radio controls)

check the fuses they might be blown

You have a broken wire to the turn/brake light portion of the light as they use the same wire. Or where the plug goes into the light assy could be bad. Torsion mount lights are horrible and you should think about replacing with a universal light that you can wire direct.