Everytime I apply my brakes, my running lights turn on, and once I release the brakes they turn off. Obviously it is something electrical, but has anyone seen/heard of this happening before? And if so, can you pinpoint the problem?

UPDATE:
Even without my key inserted into the ignition my running lights still turn on once I apply the brake.

 

Wow, lol. Does your car have foglights? Are you the original owner?

 

thats a bust but kinda a cool mod lol

 

No, I am not the original owner, I am the second owner of the car. And yes I have foglights, but this is the first time this has happened.

It doesn't really bother me I think it is kinda cool, but it is just weird and was wondering if anyone knew why this what going on and maybe how to fix it.

 

I'd look in the trunk behind the liner, the previous owner may have put in a towing connector (god knows why...) that can confuse the brake and sidelite signals.

 

What exactly is a towing connector? It is also making part of the headlights come on as well, only the running lights not my HIDs.

 

I would guess that you may have a poor ground connection in one of your taillights. Bad grounds can make your lights seem like they are possessed. Check to see if both brake lights are of the same brightness. Typically the one with the poor ground will burn less brightly. I don't understand why exactly, but when a ground is poor, current seems to go into other circuits looking for a ground and causes seemingly unrelated lights to turn on.

 

klanham08- I'm curious, if you apply the brake without inserting the key, do the running lights still turn on?
And also, do the brake lights turn on with no key inserted (when applying the brakes).

 

I am talking about my headlights turning on, not my tail lights.

 

Yeah... i got that... but I need to know more in order to help narrow it down since those are on two completely different circuits.
You applying the brake should have nothing to do with any lights up front.

 

Yeah I figured that lol.

But I haven't tried it yet, but I am pretty sure that my lights won't turn on without a key inserted.

 

There is probably a cross between 2 wires and making the parking lights come on. It can be anywhere in the car.

 

Your brake lights should come on even without the key inserted.
But I'm curious if the front lights do or not.
This might tell us what circuit they're on (or help narrow it down).

 

Ok I will try to figure it out sometime tomorrow and let you guys know asap.

 

Your car is ******* with you..

 

Lol tell me about it.

UPDATE:

Even without my key in the ignition, my running lights still turn on!

 

LOL... damn...
At least we were able to cut out other variables such as anything on the IGN or ACC relay circuit since they require the key.
The head and tail relay does not require the key... this is why you can see the brake and head lights without the car on.
Now we just need to figure out why one is tied into the other, and how its tied in after the brake switch since that is when the running lights turn on.
And its not like two wires on different circuits are touching each other or you would have blown a fuse.
Let me stare at some more electrical diagrams and try to figure out how else this is possible.


And just to clarify... its only the running lights coming on, right?
None of the other "front" lights or side markers?

 

Yes it is just my running lights, not my HID Headlights. I am pretty sure my Side Markers are not turning on either.

 

OK... do any other rear lights turn on like the rear side marker or the license plate light when you press the brake?

 

Hmm, I am not sure. I think everything turns on but I am not sure.

 

Well under normal conditions the rear side marker, taillight, the license plate light should not turn on with the brake light.
But these are on the same circuit as the running lights after the TNS (TAIL) relay.
If they do turn on, then you might have a bridged connection like GeorgiaBII mentioned above
If not... then we'll go from there...

 

I looked more closely at the diagram going off of what GeorgiaBII suggested and the more I look at this the more I agree.

I wanted to verify that the taillight and brake light weren't isolated, but they are indeed the same connector.

 

Yeah... been kicking myself in the *** for not seeing that earlier.
I've been tracing both circuits trying to find any point they might intersect.
Then you mentioned that and I slapped myself in the forehead.
Good call BTW