Right brake light won't work and once it's fixed left brake light won't work

Tiny
MABABAMOV
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 JEEP WRANGLER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
First my right brake light wasn't working so I cleaned up the grounds on it and it started working, but my left side stopped working as soon as the right side started. I cleaned up the grounds on the left side and it started working but the right side went out again. It's only the brake lights that are going out all the other lights in the rear work. Just seeing if anyone had any ideas before I start going through all the wiring.
Monday, May 19th, 2014 AT 6:19 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,144 POSTS
Have you tried running a new ground for both lights?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, May 19th, 2014 AT 6:22 AM
Tiny
MABABAMOV
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I haven't because the grounds in each light are three bolts that secure the rear light assembly into the body. And once I cleaned all the bolts and all the holes they were going through I thought it would be enough. If it's not I guess I can drill through the assembly and the body and put a new screw in. I just don't understand why as soon as one starts working the other one stops.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, May 19th, 2014 AT 8:45 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,144 POSTS
Electricity is a funny thing. If you have a bad ground, it could be seeking ground through a different passage. If it isn't too much work, I would try giving both lights a new ground to see if that takes care of the problem. Or, check to see if continuity is lost through the ground of the light that isn't working.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, May 19th, 2014 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
MABABAMOV
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Ok finally figured out that the grounds were good but the brake lights would alternate working based on which side the turn signal was last turned on. I think that means it's a problem with my turn signal switch but I wanted to make sure if you agreed before I actually bought one.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, May 19th, 2014 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,144 POSTS
That's a tough call for me without testing it. It could be, but I really question it.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 AT 8:50 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Brake Light Not Working Content

VIEW MORE