Brake/Tail Light Problems

[1979Calais]

1978 Cutlass
I am trying to get this car right for my cousin to finally get it after almost a year. The brake lights keep blowing and sometime the complete bulbs will blew. I have replaced all 4 bulds twice, but this time the right side bulbs blew complete and the left side only brakes light part is out. Can someone help me find the problem? Thanks in advance!

 

[1979Calais]

Any Body?

 

[Rusty Nutz]

That's strange to just blow bulbs and not fuses if I'm reading right. Possibly overcharging intermittently and blowing them. My drag car was overcharging intermittently and caused me all kinds of grief. Stuck my line lock, over pressured my fuel system flooded the engine etc.

 

[jetsetw31]

Your issue is your wires are grounding out and it's most likely in the trunk area. The wires in the interior are well shielded, so that leaves the trunk. Also check the bulb sockets and wires that connect to them.
T

 

[1979Calais]

Thanks Rusty Nutz and Jetsetw31
I did see 2 wires in the trunk that are cut, but don't look like they go to the lights. I will get a picture posted tomorrow. Its driving me crazy and I need to fix this soon. If its not getting a good ground, will that make them blow?

 

[1979Calais]

After reading what jetsetw31 said, I went out in cold and took these pictures. The 2 white wires are not running to anything, but they are connected to the wires that run to the tail/brake lights. Could this be the problem?

 

[Rusty Nutz]

Someone has definetly spliced a wire in to bypass or tie in for some reason. And did a poor job of it. Maybe someone added a 3rd brake light or trailer plug, hard to tell from the pictures.Any how shorted wires will not blow bulbs, shorted wires blow fuses or smoke wires. That mess needs to be repaired at least.

 

[jetsetw31]

After looking at that, There might be crossed wires. Definitely check where those extra wires go to. They may not be fused correctly.
Unplug that connecter in the trunk and use a test light to see if all is working ok.

 

[1979Calais]

The first picture it where the spliced wires end, they are not connected to anything. It does have a third brake light that is not hooked up. How should I test the wires?

 

[1979Calais]

How many wires should the third brake light have running to it?