13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHBrake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Leading reported evidence
Adjust angle of the contacts
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
When I had intermittent rear light issues, I pulled both light bars out and adjusted the angle of the contacts.
Brake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Adjust angle of the contacts' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Adjust angle of the contacts' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Brake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Check fuse
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Brake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Check brake switch
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If fuse(s) are good (unsure if they are all on the same fuse) check the Brake switch.
Brake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Check but of course
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I changed one bulb just to check but of course that didn't work.
Brake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Set cruise control
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If you have cruise control, a way to test would be set the cruise control and then tap the brakes, if cruis control switches off, brake switch is good.
Brake Lights Quit Working - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
986Forum: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
I changed one bulb just to check but of course that didn't work.
So all 3 brake lights quit working. I changed one bulb just to check but of course that didn't work. I checked the fuse, but no good there either. Any ideas?
If you have cruise control, a way to test would be set the cruise control and then tap the brakes, if cruis control switches off, brake switch is good.
1. Check ALL fuses.
2. Are the (front) side marker lights working? Replace the bulbs.
I had the same problem... was the side marker lights.
Report back.
Sounds like a bad brake light switch. Under the dash behind the brake pedal is where you'll find it. Try fidgeting with it first it might have simply gotten stuck closed. The contact point of the switch is a small plastic button. Check that first.
I just bought a 01 and the brake lights will only flicker once in a while, most always nothing happens. The prior owner said maybe a dirty brake switch, any kind of P/N for the switch and where to look under the dash?
When I had intermittent rear light issues, I pulled both light bars out and adjusted the angle of the contacts. All of mine were dodgy. Once you pull one out, you should see what I mean. All good since.
Had that same challenge.
Intermittent likewise. Adjusted likewise. Remained dodgy. I got tired of the intermittency... and purchased from our sponsor a new bar.
Old one looked great... but I tired of trying to correct the anamoly (I didn't have the patience then now I have). Still have the old bar. For sale.
I'm having the same brake light problem with my 1998 Boxster 986, no brake lights at all, left right or center. All fuses check OK as do the front side marker lights. I bought a new Porsche brake switch from Pelican and replaced it and still nothing. I've also removed the (left side) taillight assembly and all of the bulbs on it are fine.
Is the taillight assembly what you are referring to as the "light bar"? What do you mean by adjusting the angle of the contacts? Right now I'm pretty stuck.
Yes... in the trunk... you have the harness that plugs into the bar. Remove the bar. You'll see the "circuit"(s). Inspect and make sure the metal of each contact is, well, making the proper contact. You can have the accessories powered up (key on)... and start plugging and playing until you find the anomaly.
Also... check my post #4 above.
Do you have a circuit test light????
You need to test and proof out your brake light circuit.
Other wise your just chasing your tail and replacing parts.
What method did you use to test your fuses????
You need to (properly) test the brake light circuit at the connection to the taillight assembly.
If you have power at the connector then the assembly or bulbs are the fault.
If you do not have power at that connector then the fault is somewhere between the connector and the power source.
So you trace (Test and proof out) the circuit back towards the power source tell you find the fault.
Replacing bulbs and switches and adjusting the angle of the contacts in the light assembly is chasing your tail if you don't have a complete circuit.
