ABS Light, both rear brake lights out?

I just bought a 2000 Venture WB edition, but the only brake light that works is the third, the other two don't. I have yet to look at the bulbs , but find it hard to believe that both would be out at the same time. Also would this cause the ABS light to be on? The van stops nice and functions good otherwise. I have heard that the taillight circuit board may need replaced, and I have done this on my 2000 Montana, but it never had the ABS light on all the time and it was only the drivers side. Also would this relate to the turn signals on both sides flashing fast?

Thanks!

I just bought a 2000 Venture WB edition, but the only brake light that works is the third, the other two don't. I have yet to look at the bulbs , but find it hard to believe that both would be out at the same time. Also would this cause the ABS light to be on? The van stops nice and functions good otherwise. I have heard that the taillight circuit board may need replaced, and I have done this on my 2000 Montana, but it never had the ABS light on all the time and it was only the drivers side. Also would this relate to the turn signals on both sides flashing fast?

Thanks!
If the stop lamp switch is open, this will set a code in the EBCM and turn on the ABS light.
Some possible causes to look at are stoplamp switch circuit open, stoplamps open, stoplamp ground or the circuits have a wiring problem, corrosion, or poor connections.
And don't forget the basics..check fuses

Thanks, Fuses will be the first thing. The third brake light still works, but I will be driving it about 400 miles on Monday and would really like to have them work! I will be checking everything, I was just wanting to know if the ABS light was because the rear lights were a problem.

Probably a short or ground issue on one or both rear circuit bds. (tailight assemblies). Make sure that your plug in harness connector hasn't shorted as well, as my 97's did. Both rear brake lights out, only third brake light on, as well as ABS and TCS idiot lights on. If you buy new cicrcuit bds only to solve your problem, goop weatherproof silicone caulk over the connection on both sides once you prove it works to prevent this shorting out from happening again. Design flaw by GM. Who would ever place any connection in the direct drain path of the rear hatch. The other option you have which costs about $5 is to label the harness wires that plug into the circuit board as to their location on the mating plug, cut the plug off the harness, attach connectors to each wire, cut down all 4 sides of the circuit bd plug about 3/8th to 1/2 in exposing the 5 pins. Be sure to clean off the shorted middle, thin prong/pin carefully. Attach the mating connector from the location markings you did earlier. Test the brakes, notice that your ABS/TCS dash lights are now out, and apply weatherproof silicone to the connections so that water, etc cannot collect at the harness or connections. The McGyver way, but my circuit has worked for over a year incident-free.

If you need new circuit boards, here you go:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PONTIAC-MONTANA-Venture-TAIL-LIGHT-CIRCUIT-BOARD-New_W0QQitemZ270084897858QQihZ017QQcategoryZ33716Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem. If you miss this auction, check back as I noticed this seller puts them up frequently on eBay.

Found the brake light to actually be a good board. These are actually not a circuit board but rather a metal trace. No "board" in there. It was melted at the socket for the brake light, but I was able to clean it out and re position the connecting surface so that it made contact with teh bulb. Viola! Good to go. However, the ABS light remains on.

As for the turn signals....turns out that the sockets in the front next o the headlights had the same problem. Once corrected, they flashed!

I would still get some silicone caulk on the whole plug to prevent a repeat nightmare with this. You may have the problem as well on the other side circuit connection, thus the ABS light still on. Definitely check it out. If you want to discuss further, email me at cjstew4@san.rr.com and we can talk since I dealt with this for too many months until I did the fix on boths sides that I previously described.

Found the brake light to actually be a good board. These are actually not a circuit board but rather a metal trace. No "board" in there.
That is the term that is used to describe the part, even though it may not look like a circuit board. Most mechanics I know, know what you are talking about when you say "the boards, or rear circuit boards for the rear lights.

I had taken the van to get the computer reset, but this did not solve the problem. This si the behaviour: If I start the van with my foot on the brake, and shift into gear (any), then back to park, sit there with my foot on the brake forever, the light stays off. As soon as I take my foot off the brake, the light comes on and stays on. Does this lead to a switch problem, or wiring?

The wiring in the rear is in great shape, even the "board" is good now.

Here is a question...could the light come on if there is low pressure in the system? Is it possible that if I bleed the entire system, including the wheels and ABS unit, that this might go away? I did have to add fluid as it looked only half full. I would assume that the regular brake light would indicate this situation and not the ABS, but could it?