3rd Brake Light Not Working...

[creekman]

Reference: 2003 996 C4S

 

The 3rd brake light is not working, the light (LED) is good, has a ground, but no power.  The left and right tail lights all work including the brake lights. Porsche schematic

shows power for the left, right and 3rd brake light all come from a "connection point" VS 13.  I had the transaxle down and if VS13 is in that area that could maybe account

for the wire being dislodged from its connection?  My car has never been molested so it has to be a simple problem if I knew where VS 13 is...

 

Would anyone know where VS 13 is?

[creekman]

I thought by posting a schematic that someone would know where the junction of VS 13 is in the wiring?

 

Thanks,

[Loren]

Sorry, just saw this.

VS 13 is simply a junction of several wires.

 

It is more likely that your issue is in the X23 connector (from my experience). 

If you follow the cable from the light down from the lid to the car body (on the right side as I recall) then it will be the connector that the fan and 3rd stop light plug into.

Look for corrosion, bent or damaged pins, or even broken wires.

[creekman]

Loren,

 

Yes, I'm aware that the junction of VS13 is 3 wires into 1...  I'm laboring that during the removal and replacement of the transaxle we disturbed some wiring.  That theory is

just a shot in the dark.  Do you know if the X23 is in the engine room or in the tail light cavity?

 

Thanks, you're the best...

[DBJoe996]

LED lights are polarity sensitive.  Sometimes just reversing the power and ground makes it work, or in a single bayonet bulb case, it works one way but not the other.

Edited November 1, 2018 by DBJoe996

[creekman]

Joe,  Good thought, but I converted the 3rd brake light to an LED and the plug only goes one way.  I bench tested the plug and LED.  There's just no power to the plug...

Electrical gremlins like this make you crazy, particularly when some of the wiring is buried in the bowels of the car.

[Loren]

Follow the cable down to the chassis - right behind the hinge/support.

 

[creekman]

Loren,

 

I have a 996, I think you're showing me the 997.  I really appreciate the help.  My 3rd brake light is mounted above the deck lid and the wire goes through the cabin bulkhead never to be seen again.  I have the LS3 conversion, but the 3rd brake light was not of any part of the conversion...

[Loren]

The photo is of the rear of my 996 - with aerokit.

The wiring diagram shows that it would still be the same connector regardless.