My friends 87S4 auto has been giving the "taillamp" warning for the last few days whenever the lights are turned on. So you check the tailights and they all work? Are some of the bulbs dual element? Maybe if one of the elements breaks it would trip the warning light? My suggestion to him was change all the bulbs in both sides (since thier cheap anyway) & see if that was the problem?
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

Check all the lights on the circuit. Even the sidemarker lights and the license plate lights can trigger the warning. Replace them all since different lights, even though they work, can have different impacts on the circuit and trigger the warning.

I'm sure others will chime in, but that's the general idea.

 

Mine is on when I first start the car. Once I touch the brake pedal, it goes off and all the lights work fine..

 

Abby-
I think all the pre-S4's do what you describe (my 82 does it too).

I think Dave is right on. If the brake lights appear to be working normally, this problem is usually one of the more inconspicuous lights (side, lic. plate, etc.). You have to check all the running lights. Good luck.

 

JFYI
My '85 auto didn't ...

 

My car is doing the exact same thing. I just had a post on this a week ago. The last time I drove it though the warning light didnt come on. Not sure whats triggering it. Usually doesnt come on for 10-15 minutes after I have been driving it. All the lights are working. Checked them repeatedly. Let me know if you find out something please...

 

I had the same issue and found that the problem was a license plate light.

 

Could also be front parking lights or side markers. Replace bulbs in pairs, clean the sockets. Clean the connectors on the central warning box. Clean fuses, relays, maybe even fuse panel...

HTH

 

i have the same problem too! i just found out its one of the rear side markers.

 

ITS NOT THE LIGHTS!!!!!!! I have checked multiple times and Brian says the lights on his friends car work too. I went through this before and it was a side marker so the lights are the first thing I checked. Also when the light is out the warning come on instantly when the car is started. Mine might not come on at all and if it does it is 10-15 minutes after the headlights are turned on. I dont think the connections are corroded being that my car never sees rain and has been a cali car its entire life. Maybe a loose connection and I will check these....

 

This system is sensitve, so it pays to go through all the sockets and clean them like Dave suggested and make sure the bulb pairs are matched. On rare occasion if nothing fixes it, it can be the bulb contoller itself.

 

Never heard of that. What means "bulb controller"?

 

As Bill says, check the central warning computer under the dead pedal If you're sure it's not bulbs or sockets. Anytime water gets tracked in there is the potential for the connectors in this area to corrode. Also, it could be an issue in/near the fuse/relay panel.

 

I had the same problem when someone cut me off on the freeway and I had to slam on the brakes. Then the light would come on by itself every time I drove the car. Push the button to turn the light off and 10 minutes later it would come on again. One day it didn't come on and it hasn't in the last 6 months. One of the rare times the car healed itself. The only other time was when my tachometer didn't work, had it repaired, worked for a month, didn't work for a few months then hit a pothole and it's been working fine the last two years. A short somewhere. I wish my leaky steering rack would heal itself, and motor mounts, and leaking oil pan gasket, etc...

 

If anyone needs a Bulb controller out of a 1982 (works great) I have an extra. Its the result of an educated guess to solve my tail lamp warrning. It wasn't the bulb controller. 45.00

SilverSFR