Brake light problem 99 maxima

[jasonwebmaui]

I've run into a strange problem with my left brake light, hopefully someone here has had a similar experience in the past. The car is a 99 Nissan Maxima SE (if that makes any difference).

1. When I turn the car lights on all the lights work in the front and the back. No problem so far.
2. The blinkers and the hazards work perfectly.
3. Problem-When I press the brake pedel all the brake lights in the back light up as they should. Problem-my far left brake light goes out when the brake pedel is pushed.
4. I have changed the bulb, this isn't the problem.

Not sure what to do. Anyone have any ideas.

Thank-you, Jason

[Roger]

Jason I'm a little confused by your #3 statement. You say the far left brake light goes out? Do you mean the left side running light that is on when you push the brake pedal goes out? Typically the turnsignals and the brake lights are the same bulb element, does this bulb normally blink when the left turn signal is operated? Is this a two element bulb?

[jasonwebmaui]

I appreciate your response, let me clarify things more.
All the running lights operate correctly,but when the brake pedal is pressed the far left brake light goes out. All the other brake lights work correctly.
Yes, this is a two element bulb.
The turn signals work properly, the turn signals are seperate lights from the brakes.

Thanxs again, look forward to your response.

[Roger]

Ok, then one element is running light and one is the brake? thing Im having trouble with is how does a brake light go out when you brake, meaning they dont come on till you push the brake. So a light that is already on is going out when you push the brake pedal? Can you take the lens cover off and push the brake pedal and see if the element that is already on is the one that goes out and the other element stays off? Now what happens say during the daylight hours when all the lights are off and you push the brake pedal? I'm understanding this as a bulb is on and that bulb goes out when you push the brake pedal. The element that is already burning is not the brake light element, the other element that is not burning would be the brake light element. In other words that element that is on will stay on or go off and the other element will start burning when you push the brake. The one element going out may be normal but the other element should come on. Check these things and post back.....Roger

[joed]

I'm understanding this as the tail lights are on and when you step on the brakes the tail light goes out.
Change the other brake light. I saw a weird problem like this once and the problem was the other bulb.
Could be a bad ground on the socket as well.

What happens when the tail lights are off? Does the brake light come on? Is it the brake element or the tail light element or both?

[Roger]

One more thing to look at. Get someone to push the brake while you watch the same bulb on the right side. See if the one element goes out and the other element comes on. If so then I would start checking voltages to see if i have voltage to the brake light element on the far left side if so then maybe ground problem.....Roger

[jasonwebmaui]

I really apprecaite your thorough help! Turns out the ground to the socket was loose. I had discounted the ground wire because it thought it was only to protect against shorts/surges.
Apparently it does more than that. Somehow it helped the brake light go on and off.
Anyway, thanxs again, glad it wasn't anything too complex. If either of you can explain what it is the ground wire does I would be interested to learn.

Have a great day guys, hopefully you are nowhere close to those Hurricanes!

[Roger]

Jason in DC (direct current) voltage pushes current through a loop in one direction. That loop starts at the battery goes out thru the wires to switches etc...then through loads...light bulbs,fan motors...etc then the loop comes back to the battery. The ground is this route back to the battery after the current goes thru the load. If you disconnect the ground wire or cause a bad ground then current cannot return to the battery and will not flow through the load. No flow no work....Roger