Jeremy, power for the stop light switch comes from the fusebox directly, then grounds through the stop light switch and the turn signal relay. The lights are on the same circuit as the horn and turn signals. If the horn and the turn signals are getting power, just trace the brake lamp wire back looking for where it's disconnected. There are wiring diagrams here that may help:
http://web.njit.edu/~jjj8778/civic/wiring/1200/

By scholzj (67.171.200.238) on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 04:44 pm:

k I checked for power at the switch and there is none. I am thinking that this is my problem since the bulbs are working and there is not an excessive amount of resistance in the wires going to the back of the car. do any of you know where the switch gets its power from, where the wire goes?
Jeremy

By Shea Laking (Sheaman71) (66.185.85.79) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 06:31 pm:

Could be a bad ground. You said you checked for power at the switch. Have you checked the wires (for the brake lights) for excessive resistance? A SMALL break in the wire insulation could lead to corrosion/deterioration of the wires, which will lead to excessive resistance or an open. Hope you get it figured out. Please let us know what you find!

Regards,
Shea

By Brandon B. (Yellow78) (65.128.20.244) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 06:14 pm:

sounds like a faulty ground, I had the exact same problem, if you have to take the lightbuld socket apart and make sure the ground wire is making good contact. they are held on with a drop of solder and it breaks easily.

By shreck (199.243.98.218) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 01:27 pm:

Here try this, take out the tail light and check to see if the ground wire from the harness is tight and not loose or rusty.

By Adrian (Evocivic) (165.228.11.61) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 12:49 pm:

Did you check to see if the bulbs are blown? Just try a new one in one of them and see what happens.

What did your multimeter say?

By scholzj (67.171.200.238) on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 11:37 am:

k so I checked the switch and it is working. any other thoughts?
Jeremy

By Adrian (Evocivic) (165.228.11.61) on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 06:58 pm:

Bad switch or two blown globes (unusual but had it happen before).

Get a multimeter, put the brakes on and test for volts at the lights.

By CVCC x 2 (64.229.111.40) on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 06:56 pm:

Faulty brake light switch??

By scholzj (67.171.200.238) on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 06:48 pm:

The break lights in my 76 1200 won't work. the tail lights themselves work when I turn on the lights (tail lights) and the emergency flashers and turn signals work. It is not a fuse, cause the other lights still work and I checked. any thoughts?
thanks
Jeremy