1992 EX L4 Vexing Brake Lamp Problem
 

I own a 1992 Accord EX, four cylinder engine with 5-speed manual transmission with 291,912 original miles. Last week the brake lamp failure indicator on the dash lit up. I checked and found that the passenger's side, double filament lamp was not lighting when the brakes were applied. The lamp lights when the headlights are on, but not when the brakes are applied.

I replaced the lamp, but that didn't fix the problem. Thinking I had a bad, new bulb, I swapped lamps with the driver's side double filament lamp. The new lamp worked on the driver's side, but the known good lamp did not work on the passenger's side.

I checked voltage and found 12V on one of the lamp socket terminals when headlights were on, and 12V on the other terminal when the brakes were applied. The wire connector and socket appear bright and clean. The lamp socket likewise.

I swapped passenger-side and driver-side tail light assemblies and the problem stayed with the passenger's side eliminating the lamp socket from consideration.

That pretty much leaves wiring. The harness is so well protected that I have trouble believing that wiring could be the problem even though the evidence seems to point there. Before I snip the wire running from the driver's side lamp to the passenger's side lamp and splice in a new one, I want to be sure I'm not missing something. I can't help but feel that I've passed up something obvious. Can anybody help?

At first I thought it could be a bad ground, but the taillamp & brakelamp probably share the same ground. Maybe someone can confirm that with a wiring drawing...?

I'm with the failure sensor having an issue-for some reason the pass side seems to leak water and cause issues more than the drivers side.

Is the high mount/center brake light working? Just want to be sure.

Wiggle the wires that go into the failure sensor on the pass side and see it the brake light comes on.

Poorman212,
The center light works fine. Where is the failure sensor located? Are there separate ones for the passenger and driver's side? Ken (212 born and raised)

The "sensors" are on both tail lights - the pass/right also "controls" the high mount/third brake light-at least on this gen Accord, that is why I asked.

So go to that side-pass/right- and "pop" the little panel off and you will see the harness where it plugs into the sensor.

EDIT: Also read thru this: https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/for...t-go-off-7706/

the 93 is the same as your 92

BINGO! Following Poorman212's suggestion, I located the sensor and found the connection loose. A little jiggling and the lights work perfectly. It had to take all of 30 seconds.

Much thanks to Jim Blake and Poorman212 for sharing your time and expertise. I am truly grateful.

Ken

Our pleasure. Glad it worked, more importantly thanks for coming back with an answer - too many time we never know the end of the story.

Now, I will say this - if the issue comes back you might have to "go deeper", meaning the inside(s) of the failure sensor will sometimes get "rust and that" which causes the issue to return. That is what the link to the other thread kind of gets into. For now....enjoy and again - Thank you :).