What would cause the tail lights and brake lights to go completely out and how do I fix it?

Tiny
ALLFIREDUPLADY
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 TOYOTA TERCEL
  • 1,350,000 MILES
All tail lights and brake lights went out and will not come back on. Right before that happened the battery and charger idiots lights would flicker but go off when the car was put into neutral. We just replaced the battery and the alternator. We replaced the fuses for the tail lights and the tail light relay switch. What else can it be?
Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 1:29 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Check for loose connections if you just replaced the parts. Check ground from battery to engine.
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 1:37 AM
Tiny
ALLFIREDUPLADY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Could the new relay switch be bad? Also one other thing: One of the lenses for the turn signal in the front is broken. My boyfriend washed my car and got water in there. Now the lights were fine immediately after it got washed but could that have caused a short and if so how do I fix it?
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 3:14 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Yes, it could have shorted. Also, you can get new parts that are bad. I get them all the time. It is very frustrating. Check to make sure the connections are good and check the fuses under the dash and under the hood.
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 3:20 AM
Tiny
ALLFIREDUPLADY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
So you are telling me that besides the fuses under the dash, there is also one under the hood
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 4:40 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
I believe there is one there too.
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 4:59 AM
Tiny
ALLFIREDUPLADY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
And if it shorted out, how do I fix it? I have to have a car, its extremely important right now
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 5:11 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
It should have blown a fuse.
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Saturday, November 26th, 2011 AT 5:17 AM

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