11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHCenter Brake Light on spoiler not working
Leading reported evidence
Reconnect harness, and it's still completely out
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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I removed the center brake light strip, disconnected, and reconnected the harness, and it's still completely out.
Leading evidence: 'Reconnect harness, and it's still completely out' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check bulb' (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 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.
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 you have multi-meter or test light, you should be able to get some voltage at the brake light end, then check the harness end.
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.
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.
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.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 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
When I got my car, the plastic lens was chipped on the third brake light but it worked fine.
Cruising along at 75+ mph, retractable spoiler comes up, then PSM / ABS light comes on - I know from experience that usually means a brake light switch or brake light bulb is out - and since the brake light switch is brand new - I get home, and extend the spoiler, and realize that the center brake light on the spoiler is completely out - yes, every single bulb is out.
Bulbs check out fine.
I removed the center brake light strip, disconnected, and reconnected the harness, and it's still completely out.
ALL other brake lights function just fine.
Any thoughts?
(wow I can't believe my car just passed it's 13 year anniversary!!)
Check spoiler/trunk harness for any corrosion or connectivity. It should be on the right side. If you have multi-meter or test light, you should be able to get some voltage at the brake light end, then check the harness end.
Yep, Standard Trouble shooting technique.
bulb no light = check bulb
Check power in bulb socket
check junction of last known place power was good
whatever is in between must be it.
It sounds like one of the micro switches inside your spoiler mechanism is not working. There are two micro switches to detect the position of the spoiler. Those switches also control whether to route the power to the regular center brake lights (when the spoiler is down) or to the brake light strip on the spoiler (when the spoiler is up).
So if one of those switches is acting up, the instrument cluster does not know your spoiler is actually up (hence the warning lights) and the brake light power will only be routed to the regular center brake lights and not to the light strip on the spoiler.
Courtesy of our 997 brothers
https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...y-rebuild.html
You can see the micro switches around photos 12 and 13.
[Edit] Ok, I read your post again and noticed you said the PSM/ABS warning light, not the spoiler malfunction warning light. I agree that usually points to the brake light switch. Can't explain why the spoiler light strip is not working then (when other brake lights work). Did you apply the brakes when the spoiler deployed and the warning lights were tripped?
Thanks everyone
Using a voltmeter I got sufficient voltage coming into the socket but no lights
So then I started playing with the bulbs and voila the brass pins that hold the bulbs into the rail started coming off. Over the 13 yrs it seems engine heat and cold air has had too many heating and cooling cycles and has damaged the assembly.
I removed the unit and using needle nose pliers tightened each socket the best I could and put it back together and it works
I figure it's temporary so I will be replacing the whole assembley soon - it's 114 dollars
Glad it's that simple. I was totally overthinking because I thought you meant with the spoiler fully raised, your regular center brake light still lights up (it shouldn't normally) but not the light strip on the spoiler.
Good troubleshooting. When I got my car, the plastic lens was chipped on the third brake light but it worked fine. It was painful to pay over a hundred bucks for a replacement unit. The lens is not sold separately.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
