So I posted a thread earlier about how only my 3rd brake light was working and not the outer Tails lights. Well after tracing the wires and checking bulbs I gave up. When I pulled it out they were working again. So I figured a short......well I thought about it for awhile and decided to pull it in a bay at work. I grabbed a mirror so I could see the tail light while braking. When the car is off only the 3rd brake light works . BUT when you start the car they all do! I just started laughing. Kinda of weird though. It's funny because a cop is the one who told me they were out while I was sitting at a Sunoco with the car off lol kinda weird

 

well, find him and tell him he is stupid and they work fine.

 

....

 

I just feel dumb because I thought they didnt work either because they dont come on when the car is turned off. Never seen a car's brake lights work that way lol

 

SUNOCO FTW! I work there

Oh, yah i noticed that on my friends cobalt....it's weird

 

lol, thats kinda funny

 

 

it is funny but what is the point in them not working when the car is off? lol i mean really! made my day interesting though laying up in my trunk cussing at **** in my car

 

that happened to me too...we have a g5 on the showroom floor at work and some kid sat in it and stepped on the brake and i was like wtf only the 3rd is goin on...so im like ok lets get it in service to have it checked out...so i start it to move it out and my boss is like are you an idiot? they work fine...so i turned off the car and it did it again...good laugh on all sides lol...anyone know why this happens?? its kinda strange

 

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ok now i dont feel so dumb! but yea I cant think of any reason they would do that

 

Yep, it happened to me too. I got to work early and shut the car off. The boss pulls in behind me and says only my high mount is working. Later when the shop slowed down, we pulled the car in and started nosing around. LOL.

Why is it like this? To prevent anyone from killing the battery when sitting in the car with their foot on the brake. Won't happen with a new battery but after a few years, the reserve power is compromised quite a bit.

 

a dude on the way to work did the same thing to me, so i think they all work now

 

When the motor is not running, your pulling all your juice directly from the battery. My guess is that it's a battery saving device.