Hi I've got a rear brake light issue on my 2001 4door Honda civic hatch back .. the rear drivers side tail light/brake light bulb glows what seems to be excessively bright and after some time burns out .. further when the brake pedal is applied it only flashes faintly to signal braking ... The passager side bulb doesn't glow as brightly and flashes as it should when the brakes are applied.. More puzzling is that if i switch the engine off and leave the lights on for a few minutes i can't get the car to start again.. I turn the key and everything lights up on the dash but all dials return to rest and dash lights dim as if the battery is flat(or car is immobilied) .. If i return to the car some time later it will restart with no problem (Still with drivers side brake light issues)
.. Could these gremlins be related problems?? I've checked the under bonnet fuses and they are good.. I'm not sure if there is a rear light relay? and if this could cause these issues?? Or if there is some other general power relay that is causing a start issue?? .. I hope someone can help ... Many thanks.

 

In for finding out what it is.

Check the brake pedal switch? Good battery grounds? What's the voltage at the socket of the bad one compared to the normal one?

 

HI thanks for your reply...On the drivers side thats over bright and is not registering bightly a brake signal I'm getting ground off the black wire .. 11v off the orange and yellow ... and 12v off the white wire .. I've tried making a new ground from body to the black wire but no change .. bulb glows excessively when lights on and negligably registers the brake pedal .. the other bulb works fine?? Are there lighting relays for the rear lights (left and right)?? .. Re starting I was wondering if there was a main relay for whole car .. but even though it wont turnover everything seems live? .. I'm about to hunt for the starter motor and the gearbox ground where are they? I can't see them from the front of the engine ... Many thanks