viz
New Member
- Joined
- July 1, 2004
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Olympic Peninsula, WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '96 Eddie Bauer
So my 96 EB is smart enough to tell me I have a brake light burnt out - got that message sunday, and I confirmed it by having a friend step on the brakes. I was home sick yesterday so I didn't do anything with it. Drove up to work today hoping to avoid any law enforcement entaglements (which I did), and promptly bought the bulb. Just now I went out for a break to replace the bulb, and that's where things got strange.
First, once I detached the taillight lens, I tested the brakes, and the light was working again. Whatever, I thought, since I bought the new bulbs I might as well replace it. After detaching the mount from the taillight, I noticed the bulb was all blackened but it did in fact still work. I pulled it and replaced it with the new one.
Back in the drivers seat, I ran the "System Check" on the computer and it told me the brake lights were ok. I started the vehicle and hit the brakes, both sides lit up (I backed up against a wall after I remounted the lens so I could see). Brakes on, hit the right turn signal, no problem. Left turn signal - problem. The signal stopped blinking and just kind of stuck on steady, as long as I held the brakes. Even once I shut the signal off, it stayed on. I released the brakes, and then tapped them again and they came on, along with the turn signal (again not blinking, and the signal SHOULD have been in the off position). At this point I notice smoke rising out of the column, right around the hazard light switch. It had that electrical smell that turns your stomach, so I pulled back forward and shut the whole thing off.
I pulled the taillight again and then removed the bulb & mount, the bulb looked good although it was quite hot. The mount, however, was pretty blackened. The plastic, which looks like it's supposed to have a pale yellowish color, is brownish-black all through where the bulb mounts in. I didn't really notice this when I swapped the bulbs, but one look at the base of the old bulb shows that whatever happened didn't just start.
So, should I just not take any left turns on the way home? Help, please!
First, once I detached the taillight lens, I tested the brakes, and the light was working again. Whatever, I thought, since I bought the new bulbs I might as well replace it. After detaching the mount from the taillight, I noticed the bulb was all blackened but it did in fact still work. I pulled it and replaced it with the new one.
Back in the drivers seat, I ran the "System Check" on the computer and it told me the brake lights were ok. I started the vehicle and hit the brakes, both sides lit up (I backed up against a wall after I remounted the lens so I could see). Brakes on, hit the right turn signal, no problem. Left turn signal - problem. The signal stopped blinking and just kind of stuck on steady, as long as I held the brakes. Even once I shut the signal off, it stayed on. I released the brakes, and then tapped them again and they came on, along with the turn signal (again not blinking, and the signal SHOULD have been in the off position). At this point I notice smoke rising out of the column, right around the hazard light switch. It had that electrical smell that turns your stomach, so I pulled back forward and shut the whole thing off.
I pulled the taillight again and then removed the bulb & mount, the bulb looked good although it was quite hot. The mount, however, was pretty blackened. The plastic, which looks like it's supposed to have a pale yellowish color, is brownish-black all through where the bulb mounts in. I didn't really notice this when I swapped the bulbs, but one look at the base of the old bulb shows that whatever happened didn't just start.
So, should I just not take any left turns on the way home? Help, please!
