Brake light quandary

[Reefstar]

Hopefully someone can help here with this. I've checked all I can think of. The two outside brake lights come on and remain on as soon as I turn the ignition to the on position. The cyclops light does not come on. When I hit the brake pedal the cyclops light comes on and the outside lights remain on.

With the ignition off, if I press the brake pedal all the lights work properly together. If I turn the lights on the proper lights come on and the brake lights function properly. But as soon as I turn the ignition on, the two outside brake lights come on and remain on. I can't think of what is causing this. Any ideas?

2009 Journey sxt

Help.

Thanks.

[Reefstar]

Update... I just checked and actually both filaments are lit in the two outside bulbs. Not just the brake filament. The lights in the hatch are not lit.

[Journeyman425]

You may have a short in the tailgate wiring harness. One of my customers had an issue with her reverse lights and rear wiper in her '09 Journey R/T. Both reverse lights work normally if the transmission were shifted into reverse with the ignition in the run position but the engine not running. If the engine is running and then shifted into reverse, one reverse light woudl go off and the rear wiper would come on. As soon as the gearshift lever was moved to drive, the wiper would stop. We located a short in the tailgate wiring under the tailgate panel and repaired it.