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Brake lights not working

Tiny
ANNA01
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 72,000 MILES
My brake lights arent working and I checked the bulbs and they are fine I checked the fuse and it is busted and I replaced it and it busted as soon as I turned the car on. My horn isnt working as well. I am wondering wat it might be?
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 AT 6:03 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
It sounds like You have a short on the brake light switch or bulbs that's causing the fuse to blow along with components that uses the same circuit. this guide will help fix it I have giving the brake light fuse location as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-lights-not-working

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 AT 8:02 PM
Tiny
PAUL BRADY
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
  • 2004 HONDA CIVIC
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Got the car listed above lx sedan and the driver side brake light the big red one on the quarter panel mounted taillight will only come on when pressure is applied to the brake pedal but not when the lights are turned on at night. All the other lights work like they should. Already replaced the socket and fuse. Any other ideas?
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Hi,

I'm not sure specifically which bulb you are referring to. However, most of these bulbs have a dual element. Once can be burned out and the other not. In this case, the parking light element is bad and the brake light bulb is good. Have you replaced the bulb yet?

Joe
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL BRADY
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Bulbs are brand new and it’s the big red one on the top of the tail light. We already replaced the socket and fuse. Technically the car is not mine it actually belongs to a friend of mine that doesn’t know anything about cars.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Hi,

Okay, I need some general info. Since it is the parking light that comes on with the headlamps, I need to know if this is a hatchback, sedan, coupe, or hybrid. The wiring schematics for me to look at are all different.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL BRADY
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Sedan lx model.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Okay, got it. Here is what I need you to do. First, power to the parking lights comes direct from the parking light relay, seen in pic 1. From that point, it goes to all lights (Pic 2). What I need you to do is check one thing for me at that light socket. With the lights on, there should be 12v to the red wire with a yellow tracer. Check that.

Also, I need to confirm one more thing. I reread your original post. Is it the parking light that doesn't work or do you mean the brake light doesn't work when the head lamps are on.

If it is a brake light not working, check for 12v at the white wire with a black tracer. (See pic 3)

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL BRADY
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Now that you mention it I’m not exactly sure which one it is. Because we turned the lights on while the car was in park and it didn’t come on until pressure was applied to the pedal. But either way it doesn’t come on.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL BRADY
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Exactly which relay is it that controls the taillights? Because everything I found online doesn’t say that it also controls the taillights so I wouldn’t know which.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRISLEE03
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
I have a 2000 Honda Civic EX and the break lights will not come on. They were on relatively recently, but now they are not working. I was told by the dealership that they checked the fuses, relays and switches, but still no lights. Any ideas on what to do next and where to look? Also, who should I take this to if I can't fix it myself?

Thanks very much in advance.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,753 POSTS
I would be checking the switch on the brake pedal. There should be an open and closed just like light switch. Test with a volt-ohm meter. If it does not open and close with the tester, replace it. The switch might actually open and close but the meter must show it connecting inside. Check the fuse with the ohm meter as well. Then go to the taillights. Use the volt-ohm meter to see if there is voltage at the light for the brakelights. Grounding can be a big issue that causes problems. Check the ground.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
According to the schematic for your vehicle, it is under the dash / fuse, relay box / left side. See pic 1.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRISLEE03
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Where can the ground be found at on a 2000 Honda Civic EX? Thanks already for your help.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PAUL BRADY
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
But I’m figuring it has to be the wiring cause. Correct me if I’m wrong, but since all the lights work except for the one it can’t be the relay going bad.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,753 POSTS
According to the wiring diagram for that vehicle the Black wire is ground. Check the continuity of the black wire and the body of the vehicle. Touching the black wire to a good ground on the vehicle might be one way of testing.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Hi, Paul.

What you say makes sense. It may be time to start tracing wiring to see if there is a break or bad connection at some point.

Let me know.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HFUKUI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
2000 Honda Civic: No brake lights, fuse is good, bulbs are both good, brake switch is good, power windows work, hazards work, headlights work, a/c heater works, radio works, everything works but the brake lights. What is the deal? Please advise.
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-2
Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRISTI1984
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
  • 90,000 MILES
I have a Honda Civic that has never had any real problems and has never been in any accidents. One day the cars rear lights stopped working. The 2 brake lights and the light located in the middle of the car on the top of the trunk will not light up at all when you press on the brakes. However when you turn the light on with the switch on the dash area the lights do come on. I have taken my car to several places that tell me they dont know what is wrong. I have spent a ton of money just letting people look at the car and tell me they dont know how to help me. I have been without my car for 3 months and I just need help.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Thats pretty sad is your brake light fuse good?Does it have power to both sides?
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRISTI1984
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Im not really sure. I dont know where the fuses are and because Im a girl the body shops I have gone to tell me to have my father give them a call so they can tell him what they have checked and what they have done for me.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2020 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)

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