The 2 main brake lights are not working but the third brake light works as it should. My analysis points me to the BC1. The BC1 acts as the switch supplying power to the brake lights among other auxiliaries. I suspect the circuit for the 2 main brake lights in the BC1 is bad. My plan is to connect a jumper from the third brake light to the 2 main brake lights. Looking at the schematics, it looks like this is going to work. So long as the other auxiliaries continue to work and the jumper solution does not cause an overload to the third brake light circuit then I will not have to replace the BC1 which is a bit expensive.

Any thoughts about this "jumper" solution? I want to make sure I am not missing anything.

 

Stupid question, but have you tried to replace both brake light bulbs?

Does the car have a sunroof? Have you checked to see if the front drains are still connected? Does the passenger side footwell have water under the carpet?

If yes to any of these, then you are probably going to be in for a BCM. There are other electrical diagnostics that should be done prior to spending money on a BCM.

You can however buy a used BCM and plug it into your car and not have any problems, they go for about $80 on car-part.com.

In a perfect world you need to buy a new unit and have it coded to the car, as they are single time use, once coded to a car the VIN coding can't be changed. That said, I've never had a problem by installing a used BCM.

 

thank you for your response and do agree with you that the BC1 is the suspect and the possible causes (ie BC1 getting wet) so far as the brake light circuit is concerned. One thing that I think you missed however is the objective of my post which is to ask thoughts about the "jumper solution". I am directing this question obviously to those that understands the schematics that flows from the fuse F6 to the brake pedal switch, onto the BC1 and finally to the 3 brake lights.