brake light problem - Car Troubleshooting


	Auto Repair Home	SEARCH POSTS	WHO'S ONLINE	LOG IN

Automotive Repair

Car Troubleshooting Topics
  Car Troubleshooting
  Engine Troubleshooting
  Engine Fault Codes
  Electrical and Wiring
  Transmission Problems

Car Repair Topics
  Car Making Noises
  Car Stereo Repair
  Heating or AC Issues
  Motorcycles and ATVs
  Tricks of the Trade
  Truck Repair Advice

Site Options:
  Login
  Sign up here!

Latest Forum Post

Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk

The Cable that connects my negative batt...

Rough Idle (Found new thing)

Hi everyone. First of all sorry for bad ...

equipment

hey yall. im a first year engineering st...

HELP

I have a 1956 1/2 ton panel truck, 69 35...

Howdy

    Just wanted to s...

ABS/Tractiob/Brake Lights on But No DTCs

Hello all, Recently while driving m...

Chevy strut replacement

I'm trying to get a sensor of some kind ...

2020 suburban new transmission and issues after install

recently had the transmission fail at 11...

2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes

When I bought this car in summer 2023, a...

Caliper piston post cleaning won't screw in

Hello, 2013 Hyundai Elantra limited (ma...

brake light problem

Sign up here!

Email This Post

Auto Repair Home>> Automotive Repair>> Car Troubleshooting

Spicemaster
User

Apr 6, 2017, 9:18 AM

Post #1 of 5 (1376 views)

brake light problem	Sign In

I have a 2007 kia rio with minor rearend damage; all the taillights are working, but the brake lights will not work. I changed the bakelight switch at the pedal, checked all the fuses, the bulbs and the wires at the damaged rear end... Now i am at a loss as to where to proceed! Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 6, 2017, 10:12 AM

Post #2 of 5 (1372 views)

Re: brake light problem	Sign In

Is there power at the brake light switch? Can you operate it by hand and make them work?

It's possible there's a rubber bumper of some sort that actually pushes the switch and is missing or just doesn't hit right. Some you do adjust to be right some are fixed in one spot only when installed. Take another look at that and even with a test light you should see it pass current thru it operating even by hand,

T

Spicemaster
User

Apr 6, 2017, 5:38 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1352 views)

Re: brake light problem	Sign In

I tried to do it by hand as soon as i hooked up yhe new switch but no go....is there maybe a junction between the lights and the switch?

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 7, 2017, 12:02 AM

Post #4 of 5 (1338 views)

Re: brake light problem	Sign In

1st - The reason I was thinking of "out of adjustment" or broken is that you said rear end accident of some sort. Reading between the lines you might have seriously hit brake pedal real hard if an accident situation.

Rear wires and sockets plus correct bulbs a must. There should also be a plain fuse for brake lights. I wanted you to test for power at the switch not guess. There is constant power available for brake lights waiting and passes thru when applied doesn't matter car on or off, keys in or not.

You/we need a starting place. If no power at that switch can move on.

You need a 6-12V test light aka circuit tester dirt cheap sold all over the place. If power is there it passes thru seen by that also. If lights don't work there's more to look for or if a fuse blows.

What you said was such minor damage couldn't have been even if it felt like it. Broken tail lights + wires out back it was hit pretty hard,

T

danibal5
New User

Apr 15, 2017, 4:29 AM

Post #5 of 5 (1302 views)

Re: brake light problem	Sign In

If the lights stopped working after the accident then lets start easy.

Check power to the globe plugs (obviously a no brainer)
See if the brake fuse has power (use a test light with ignition on and check both sides of the fuses)
Check the brake light switch - adjustment, power etc.

Email This Post

Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap