After driving through some nice downpours, I've been getting the usual "Bulb Failure" light, but this time it appears that the problem isn't a leaky tail light cluster.

A few days ago, I did blow out a bulb in the tail lights, but I've drilled a hole in that panel, replaced the bulb, and now that light, along with all of the other brake lights, are working as they should be.

My problem is that the interior driving lights--the dash illumination lights, the 52mm clock light, the lights behind the center and shift console--turn on when I brake, even with the headlights off! At the same time the "Bulb Failure" light comes on in the dash. Here's a breakdown of what causes the light:

Headlights off, brakes off--no warning light, no interior lights (normal operation)
Headlights off, brakes on--warning light, interior lights
Headlights on, brakes off--warning light, interior lights (normal operation of interior lights)
Headlights on, brakes on--no warning light, interior lights (normal operation)

Does anyone know what kind of electrical problem I have and how I can fix it? It sounds like a wire relating to the interior lights with the headlights got crossed with the brake light wiring.
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'89 244 GL -- 105,XXX miles (see profile for info on car)

Does it only happen when you are moving? In other words. If you are parked and step on the brake does the problem occure? If it happens all the time then it probably isn't a wire that has lost it's insolation.

It does sound like a ground problem. My brother had a problem with the windshield wipers always going, a dim right headlight, and maybe the wiper fluid as well. We traced it down to the ground on the passenger side under the hood, near the fluid reservior.

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- Mike

It is not a bug, it is a feature of your electrical system.

All your lights come on when you break. That is so cool.

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- Mike

Well, when you find out what it is, let me know because I think the same citcuit is responsible for both problems.
In my case, I even cut the wires to the seat belt switches and buzzer/light a few years ago becasue it was blowing the fuse for the instrument lighting, which are on the same fuse.
It could be the module that senses the bulb failure, getting a positive feed into the seat-belt citcuit when it should've been a feed to the blinkers, or a ground short within the bulb warning module providing the positive voltage.
It also could be within the flasher relay, giving a feed to the warning circuit, although I don't think the brake lighes are on this fuse.
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'89 245 Sportwagon, '04 V70 2.5T Sportwagon

Check the brake light ground wires ... I had a bad ground in my high mount brake light in my 245DL. When I applied the brakes the instrument warning lights would come on. In my 745T a bad headlight ground caused the right headlight to dim and trip the wind sheild wiper relay ...so the wipers would run no matter what position the wiper switch was in. So I'd suspect a bad ground at one or more of the brake lights. Hope this helps.

yes i had this one a few weeks ago and it was behind the instrument cluster

remove the steery wheel for quicker access
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big rich in arkansas '62 544 132K, 85 244 210K, 95 855 105K