It’s unlikely that all three of your brake lights’ separate bulbs have burned out if none of them are functioning. The likelihood that you have an electrical system issue is much higher. Be at ease. It could appear difficult and pricey. Most likely, the electrical system issue is simply a blown brake light system fuse.
As each component of the car’s electrical system is protected by a fuse from amperage overload, the remainder of the car isn’t damaged if one goes out. If the fuse blows, electricity cannot reach the lights, even if everything else is in working order.
The power distribution center, which is either hidden behind the hood or under the dashboard, is where you’ll find the brake light system fuse, as well as all other fuses. The power distribution center is a new concept to you? It is merely another name for a fuse box. Locate the fuse that corresponds to the brake lights using the owner’s manual for your automobile.
For the next step, you must connect a test light (you can get one at any auto parts store). Turn the ignition of your car to the “on” position, take hold of the test light, connect it to a ground source, such as the dash or the car’s body, and gently touch the tester’s tip to each end of the fuse. Now, lightly depress the gas pedal. The test light should be on. If so, the fuse is working properly, and the broken brake light bulb is most likely the source of the issue. However, if the connection is only pressed on one side of the fuse and the test light turns on, the fuse is bad. No matter where the test light is linked to the fuse, if it doesn’t illuminate at all, you must replace the fuse. Verify that the replacement’s amp rating matches that of the original fuse.
But hold on—you’re not done yet! You must retest it after installing a new fuse. If both lights turn on, the fuse is operational, and the issue has been resolved. Be mindful that an electrical problem further up in the system may be indicated by a blown fuse. The replacement fuse will also blow in this scenario, therefore you need get in touch with an electrician to find the precise location of the problem.
When you press the pedal and the new fuse doesn’t light, the circuit is shorted out. That is a more difficult and expensive repair that must be done by a qualified mechanic.
In This Article...
Is there a fuse for the tail lights?
For the majority of car models, a fuse is present for the tail lights. even have a fuse for each side in some automobile types. The fuse box must be located in order to locate the fuses, however this is not always simple to do. It may be found in the trunk, the hood, or even the dashboard on occasion. To find out where the fuse is, it’s crucial to consult your owner’s manual.
Can you drive with no tail lights?
No, it is not legal to drive without taillights. It is unsafe and illegal in the majority of states and nations. You should get your tail lights fixed as soon as possible if they are broken. It is risky to drive without tail lights since other drivers may not be able to see your car as well and may rear-end you. In addition, if you are stopped by the police, they will issue you a penalty for not having tail lights. Driving without them is therefore not worthwhile.
Do tail lights and brake lights use the same bulb?
Your car’s make and model will determine this. The brake lights and tail lights frequently share the same bulb. However, some cars additionally have separate bulbs for the brake lights and the taillights. It’s important to consult your owner’s manual if you’re unclear of the type of configuration your car has.
How do you check your own tail lights?
By observing your own tail lights from behind your vehicle, you can check them. Just start the engine and switch on the headlights. On the majority of car types, they ought to be on when the headlights are on and off when they are off.
The brake light switch is what?
Your car’s brake light switch performs a crucial safety duty. The signal lights at the back of your car receive power when you depress the brake pedal, alerting other cars that you have slowed down.
Why don’t your brake lights illuminate?
A broken light bulb is the most frequent cause of brake lights that don’t work yet taillights that do. A busted fuse, a defective brake light switch, or problems with the wiring can also be to blame.
While the brake lights on your car should illuminate when you use the brakes, they don’t. Given that both lights’ connections effectively come from the same source, this is a peculiar issue. When you apply the brakes, either one light flashes more than the other or the taillights entirely turn off.
There is a cause for every problem, and every problem has a remedy. Why your brake light doesn’t function yet your taillights do is explained in more detail below:
What may make the brake lights malfunction?
Your car has to have functional brake lights. They serve as both a safety feature and a kindness to other motorists. Brake lights that are illuminated show that your automobile is slowing down or coming to a halt, allowing oncoming traffic plenty of time to stop whether it is daytime, low light, or complete darkness. A traffic penalty may be issued if your brake lights malfunction in addition to everything else.
However, you can prevent all of those issues by periodically testing your brake lights—a few times a year should be plenty. It’s crucial to do a test before the winter months of diminished light. For the sake of safety, fix your brake lights as soon as possible.
You can easily test your brakes. Simply have a buddy stand behind the vehicle while you depress the brake, and ask them to let you know if everything appears to be in order. If you’re working alone, put up a mirror or place a broomstick on the pedal and tuck it behind the seat before walking behind the car and checking yourself. (Of course, the vehicle must be in “park” for this to work.) Check all of your brake lights as well. Modern automobiles have three brake lights: a center light in the trunk or back window, one brake light on each side in the rear, both of which are embedded in the rear bumper.
Of course, a car’s electrical system, which includes a number of switches and fuses to safeguard circuits, is what powers the brake lights. One of three things could be the case if one or more of your brake lights aren’t functioning properly: either the brake light system fuse has blown, the brake light bulbs have burned out, or the brake light wire switch has malfunctioned. These problems are all simple to fix.
What symptoms indicate a blown fuse?
Take the fuse out of the holder. The fuse holder cap may occasionally need to be unscrewed using a tiny screwdriver.
Examine the fuse wire. The fuse has to be replaced if there is a clear gap in the wire or if there is a dark or metallic stain inside the glass. Follow steps 4 and 5 if you can’t tell whether the fuse is blown. Go to step 6 if it is certain that the fuse has blown.
Are brake and tail lights interchangeable?
The primary distinction between brake lights and tail lights is that the latter only come on when the brake pedal is depressed, whereas the former illuminates as soon as the headlights are turned on. While both lights are red, brake lights often produce a red light that is more vivid.
What causes my rear lights to dim when I brake?
While the left and right blinkers and running lights function, the vehicle’s tail lights are turned off when the brakes are applied.
This 2004 Ford Ranger with the OEM tow package has a 4-pole flat plug connecting a small utility trailer to it.
Expert Reaction:
You appear to have a poor ground connection. The greater amperage demand that occurs when the brake pedal is applied and the taillights are turned on will reveal this issue if all ground connections are not making good contact with bare metal.
In particular, where the taillights are fastened to the trailer frame and where the light brackets are installed if they are bolted to the frame, all of the ground connections need to be checked. The issue can be caused by a plastic license plate holder that is fixed between the trailer frame and the left-side taillight.
If the issue still exists after you’ve checked every ground connection, you’ll need to look for a damaged, pinched, or frayed wire on the trailer. If not, you should use a circuit tester, item number 40376 if necessary, to check that the wire connections at the tail lights are secure.
The Honda Civic’s fuse box is located where?
The driver’s side of the engine compartment houses the main under-hood fuse box. Push the indicated tabs to open it. On the driver’s lower left side is the inside fuse box. The battery is located next to the secondary under-hood fuse box.
What is a FIECU fuse?
An internal combustion engine’s actuators are managed by a sort of electronic control unit called an engine control unit (ECU), also referred to as an engine control module (ECM). The ECU regulates how much fuel is fed into the engine in a fuel injection (FI) system.
What are the symptoms of a faulty brake light switch?
Although brake light switches are made to last as long as your car, they could eventually get broken. If you experience any of these signs, think about changing the broken brake light switch:
Your Brake Lights Don’t Light Up
When you depress the brake pedal, your brake lights should illuminate to alert the driver in front of you.
The back brake lights won’t turn on if your brake switch isn’t working properly, which presents a serious safety risk because the vehicle behind you won’t be aware that you’re slowing down.
Now, this can mean that a brake light bulb in the back has burned out or that your brake light switch is broken. Consider having your car inspected by a mechanic to swiftly identify the problem.
BrakeLights Stay On Continuously
There may be a fault in the electrical circuit inside the rear brake light switch if your brake lights remain on even when you are not pressing the brake pedal.
Drivers behind you may become confused if your brake lights are constantly on even if you may be driving properly since your taillight suggests that you are about to slow down.
Additionally, if your rear brake light is left on all the time, it can quickly drain your car’s battery and harm the brake lamp or bulb.
It’s best to call a repair right away to replace the brake light switch if you have a problem with your brake lights so that no other electrical components are harmed.
Bad Cruise Control
If your car has cruise control, a broken or misaligned brake light switch can turn it off.
The switch for the cruise control and the rear brake lights is frequently shared. Therefore, if the brake lamp switch fails, your cruise control will probably too.
This does not imply that the brake light switch issue is the only reason the cruise control malfunctions. A blown fuse in the electronic control module or a malfunctioning speed sensor might also cause it to occur.
Therefore, get your brake light switch checked by a repair as well when your cruise control is acting up.