Stereo & Electronics - Brake lights

Hi. I've been working on fixing my brake lights... my right rear taillight lens was broken when I bought the car, so lots of water has gotten in and has been sitting around inside there, getting into the bulb sockets and such. I've replaced the lens and the bulbs and tried to clean out the sockets as much as possible, and now all the bulbs work again... except that the two brake light bulbs don't get brighter when I press the brake pedal. Any ideas? Do I just need to clean the contacts better (CLR maybe), or are the sockets just fubar?

Also, does anybody know how to replace the LED bar (high mount brake light) on a 2000 SS? It's a bar screwed on to the underside of the SS spoiler... or does anybody know how to open the thing to replace individual LEDs? About half of them are dead, I can't see any obvious way to open it, and it's connected by a thickish cable that goes inside the spoiler, so I can't figure out how to take it off either. The DIY manual I have focuses on LT1-era stuff, and completely ignores the existence of the SS, so it's no help. I already posted about this in the New Users forum, but nobody there knew... hopefully someone here will. Thanks in advance.

I have to ask, are you using the correct bulbs? If you happened to buy the wrong bulbs they might be single elements, thus no lights.

Or, if they appear to be "always on", then you could have the bulbs in 180 degrees rotated. There is only 1 correct position but the detents are small so you can put them in 180 off if you don't pay attention.

Sometimes the little things get ya.

Huh... yea, the indents must be tiny, I didn't even notice them. I'll check that after work today. As for using the correct bulbs... well... I THINK so, but all I did was bring in the old bulbs and ask the guys at my parts store for replacements. They're pretty knowledgeable, especially about American performance cars, so I just trusted them... I guess it's possible they made a mistake, though. I'll check that too.

Thanks for the reply. :)

Hmm... bump because I'm still trying to figure out the high-mount brake light. Any other SS owners have any info? Maybe I should ask in the special vehicles forum....

Can't help you. I've never tried to take mine apart. :)

I'm haveing a problem with mine. it does not work!!! I dont know if it is a fuse or connection some where. I checked all my fuses and they appear to be good. The slp web site has noting on it please help!

Make sure your bulb sockets are not rusted. I had this problem, and every time I replaced it with a bulb, damn thing blew again. I had to have the socket replaced. Moisture was getting in and rusting the sockets.

Make sure your bulb sockets are not rusted. I had this problem, and every time I replaced it with a bulb, damn thing blew again. I had to have the socket replaced. Moisture was getting in and rusting the sockets.
Use di-electric greese to prevent corosion.