1996 rear lights not working the same way

Asked by Pollypopcap Jan 24, 2019 at 10:05 PM about the 1996 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I replaced the sockets in the driver's side rear tail light assembly, all of them
except the side marker light.  All the bulbs work.  The problem: the driver's
side lights, both of the light bulbs (turn signal and brake) shine when I push
the brake and both shine when I turn the signal on. Now on the passenger's
side, both lights shine for the brake, but only one for the turn signal.  
Which side is correct? Did I wire the sockets wrong? Back up lights come on
at the right time.

1 Answer
26,245

taver91 answered 5 years ago

Are the bulbs single or double filament type? I believe your car has double filament bulbs and if single filament bulbs are used, they will not function. (Your directional lamp may be a single filament since its only function is the signal and does not energize with the brake.) The other bulbs/sockets are used for double duty. One filament comes on for the tail light function and the other comes on with the brakes. Check your bulbs, the two look the same but have different filaments and different contact surfaces.

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