Somehow I ended up checking the lights on my 1985 240 today. I found out some bad news. The outer bottom squares of the light panel light up when you depress the brake. If you turn on the headlights, those same sqaures and the inner bottom squares light up. But then, when you depress you the brake with the headlights on, there is no change in intensity, and hence no brakelights. After this, I removed the covers in the back and removed the outer bottom bulb from each 6 panel light assembly. I looked for corrosion on the retainer and the housing/printed circuit doodad and saw none. I replaced the bulbs and turned on the headlights. These outer bottom bulbs blew. So now, no brakelights at all. So I got to thinking:
1. Which side is which color for the bulb retainers? (white or black, passenger or driver)
2. Could someone have put a 1157 bulb in and this bulb in this application is screwy this way?
I also purchased the correct bulbs for the back (p21/5w) and will try them tommorrow but do not want to blow them out too. Sorry for long explanation. The only other thing I need to check and see tommorrow that could be pertinent is if i get any light out of these outer bottom squares as far as taillights. Thanks much in advance