Brake Lamp: Description and Operation

Stop Lamps and Center High Mounted Stop Lamp

Mechanical System Operation
Each of the tail lamps also contains a double filament stop lamp bulb. The stop lamp filament lights under the following conditions:
- The stop lamp switch is closed.
- The parking lamps are activated.
- The headlamps are activated.

The high mount stop lamp assembly fitted to the inside of the vehicle and to the rear spoiler uses a strip of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for illumination. The stop lamp is designed to operate in conjunction with the tail lamps whenever the brake pedal is depressed.

Circuit Operation
Voltage is applied continuously from the STOP LAMPS fuse to the stop lamp switch. When the brake pedal is depressed voltage flows to the center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) and left and right stop lamps.
S307 applies voltage to the following lamps:
- The left and right stop lamps
- The CHMSL

Backup Lamps
The backup lamps are designed to operate with the ignition in the ON position. Placing the transaxle in the R position closes the backup lamp circuit and turns the backup lamps ON.


Manual Transaxle
On vehicles equipped with a manual transaxle, the circuit closes through the backup lamp switch. When the ignition switch is in the RUN or START positions voltage is applied to the TURN SIGNALS fuse, located in the instrument panel fuse block. Current flows through S206 then through cavity 7 of C206 finally going to the backup lamp switch cavity A.

When the switch is closed it allows voltage to be applied to the backup lamp supply voltage circuit. Current is split through S905 to the backup lamps which turns ON the backup lamps.


Automatic Transaxle
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle, the circuit closes through the park neutral position (PNP) switch. When the ignition switch is in the RUN or START positions it applies power to the TURN SIGNALS fuse, located in the instrument panel fuse block. Current then flows through S206 then finally going to the PNP switch cavity 11. When the switch is closed it allows voltage to be applied to the backup lamp supply voltage circuit. Current is split through 5905 to the backup lamps which turns ON the backup lamps.