brake lamp change

[1999/986]

can someone explain how to get in to my 99 boxter to change the brake lamp? i'm sure this isn't hard but i can't seem to figure it out. thanks for the help.

lsc

Edited February 18, 2005 by 1999/986

[Tool Pants]

Look in the trunk behind the tail light housing. You will see 2 black round plastic things. Unscrew them and pull back the carpet. Then you will see the black plastic bulb holder that has all the bulbs for the light. Remove the holder and replace the bulb.

[1999/986]

ok, easy enough. unfortunately, i have a new problem. the passenger side was the side with the light out. when i pulled it out it i was actually missing a bulb and i was curious to see if there was actually supposed to be one there so i pulled out the "bulb holder" piece from the driver's side to see if i had one over there. when i was taking it out (a much tighter squeeze) the whole thing went out!! so i jiggled and unplugged and plugged back and so on and so forth but nothing. i switched "bulb holder" between left and right and it still worked when plugged into the other side. that means it had to be wiring (probably the harness) but i was wondering if anyone could give me a little bit more advice. i don't have a multimeter so i can't check it. thanks for your help.

[1999/986]

and if anyone has a pin-out for the harness and is willing to share the info that's be great.

[Tool Pants]

What country are you in. Is this a LHD or RHD. Are you talking about the brake or fog light.

There is no fog light on the passenger side of a LHD car. Brake and fog light bulbs are different. There is no fog light on the the passenger side of a RHD car. Confusing unless you are in Europe.

Need more info.

I think you did something for nothing....

[1999/986]

it's a LHD. i thought it was a brake light. i agree, i may have done something for nothing and am now in worse shape than when i started. regardless, nothing on the driver's side is working (except the brake light). that is, when i turn the lights on, nothing on the rear driver's side works until i press the brake and the brake light comes on.

it stopped working when i was taking the drivers side holder out. i pressed the tab and started trying to work it out. all the sudden it went out. very strage.

i'm sorry if i'm confusing you toolpants.

[Tool Pants]

I am confused.

Here is the bulb holder for the driver's side. There is an electrical connector in the back of the holder. This is the clear lights I put in on my 1997. There are bulbs in all the sockets because this is the driver side.

[1999/986]

yeah, that's the one i'm having trouble with. i'm just going to get a multimeter and try to pinpoint the problem. i now noticed that the blinker and the brake light work on that side (not sure about the reverse light, i need a helper) but the "running lights", i.e., lights that are on when the headlights are on, still do not work. i must have just loosened something in that connector when i was pulling it out. it sure seemed sensitive, i just hope something didn't break at the other end of the wire. you don't happen to know where the wires from the connector lead to do you?

also, you don't have any service manual pages about that light do you?

Edited February 24, 2005 by 1999/986

[1999/986]

hey toolpants, can you tell me where the wires run to FROM the connector at the bulb holder? does it go to the fuse panel? i checked the wire just past the connector (on the wire side) and there is no voltage there. so, i have ruled out the bulb holder and the wiring in the conenctor as the cause of my problem. that is bad since now the problem could be anywhere between the connector and the power source. if i can find the other end of the wires then i can check the voltage there and try to trace the problem back. are there any diagrams available for this? thanks for your help.

lsc

[1999/986]

anyone?