Repair Topics / Brake Lights

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Car Brake Light Question and Answers

This category contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.

Question: 1999 Ford Escort mileage: 62,555. What would cause the third brake light to come on when you turn on the parking lights?

Answer: Check the tail lights, as there could be an inappropriate taillight bulb in one of the sockets back feeding the brake circuit.

Question: 1999 Chevrolet Pickup 1500 5.0 L mileage: 120,000. The Brake Light stays on intermittently. You can lift the brake pedal with your toe turn them off. This happens going down the road or when you park the vehicle. The brake light switch is NOT ADJUSTABLE. This switch snaps into place with NO WAY TO ADJUST the plunger travel. I have replaced the switch. It did not help. When I purchased the switch at a Chevy dealer, the parts man first brought out a switch that looked nothing like the one I had removed. When I showed him the one I had removed, he dug around in the back and came out with one that matched the old one. I have had a number of people tell me "Oh yeah I had a Chevy pickup that did that. Any Ideas?

Answer: There are two switches on your brake pedal, one for the brake light switch and one for the cruise control/ECM.

Question: 1999 Olds Cutlass Ciera mileage: 75,000.  My brake lights don't work.  But only when the " anti lock " dash light comes on and stays on.  If I start the car and the "anti lock" light does not come on, the brake lights will work ok.  The "anti lock" light will usually come on after about 10 minutes of driving.  Any suggestions?  Thank you much...

Answer: The “ABS” (antilock breaking systems) light will “light” when there is a malfunction in the braking system.  The fault code is then stored in the computer.  The computer must be scanned to retrieve these stored faults to pinpoint the malfunctioning component.  Because the ABS light indicates something is wrong, a trip to you neighborhood automobile service center sooner rather than later is recommended.  Your ABS system may not be functioning.

Question: 1999 Ford Ranger 4 cylinder mileage: 99,999.  Recently, the rear brake lights (including the third) have suddenly stopped lighting up when I step on the brakes.  The fuse looks fine and all the other lights work normally.  I don't think they all burned out together.  What should I check next?  Help, before I get rear-ended!  Thanks!

Answer:   Check the brake light switch on the brake pedal linkage, because if it is not supplying 12-volts to the brake lights, the result would be the problems you describe.

Question: 2004 Chevy Silverado mileage: 67,000.  My brake lights do not work.  The rear lights or the cab brake light.  I noticed a fuse was tripped and I replaced, but the brakes still do not work.  The same fuse has the hazard lights and those do work.  I removed the rear light cover, and all three bulbs do work.   Signal work, hazards work, and reverse lights work.  I do not see any loose wires or bad grounds.  Is there a sensor or flasher exclusively for the break lights?  All other electrical controls work.  I do have electric brakes, which were installed for a trailer, but I do not use them.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:  Check the brake light switch on the brake pedal.  It may be out of adjustment or just faulty.

Question: 1999 Volvo 940 turbo 4 cyl mileage: 72,562.  The brake lights won't work. I have done the obvious.  Checked the fuses; checked the wires; checked the bulbs; and even replaced the brake light switch.  I am at a total loss.  The car was repaired by a shop for the same thing 2 months ago.  I have figured out that the shift lock and the brake light switch are one in the same. Any leads?

Answer:   Check for 12 volts into and out of the brake light switch. Then trace the 12-volt power. Repair shorted wiring as needed.

Question: 1999 Buick Regal V6 mileage: 68,000. When I step on the brake pedal, my brake light in the rear window goes on but the other brake lights do not. I have checked all of the bulbs and fuses and they all seem to be working properly. I have also traced the wires as far as possible to check for breaks but found nothing. Any suggestions?

Answer: Check your turn signal switch. Sounds like it has shorted.

Question: 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, 70,000 miles. I have a 91 Pontiac Grand Am. Just recently, when pushing down on the brake pedal, the lights on the radio display will dim and flash. When the brake is release, all lighting appears normal. Sometimes, as well as the radio display problem, there will be a popping sound. I was told that it could be the module housing for the headlights, parking lights, etc. Is this correct? Any other ideas that I need to check before I start buying and replacing parts?

Answer: Check rear tail\brake light bulbs (sounds like you have the wrong bulbs installed.)

Question: I have a 1999 GMC Truck. The wire harness for the tail lights was taken off and put back on and now they don't work. One blinker works ok and the other is very dim. There are no running lights or brake lights.  Any suggestions?

Answer:  Sounds like you have a poor ground connection between the tail light assembly and the fender. Clean the mounting surfaces or add an extra ground wire from the tail-light housing to the frame.

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