Gear stuck on park. Brake lights dont turn on. Brake light switch has been changed the problem still remains.
Hi, so my gear got stuck on drive the other day and when i got home to put it into park i couldnt get past nuetral. I then engaged the shift lock and moved it park. After further inspection i saw my brake lights do not come on. So i changed my brake light switch and the problem still remained. I then proceeded to my interior fuses changing 3 since my voltometer didnt light up. After changing the fuses the brake lamp fuse and another still didnt light up. Do you have ideas as to what could be the problem. Thank you very much.
My car has 200000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is likely having a connection issue somewhere around the switch. Since you have a voltmeter or test light, you will want to test for power leading up to the fuses, and then after the fuses. If you have power when pressing the light after the fuse (this means the power is making it through the fuse), continue to trace that voltage until you find where it stops. This voltage drop is most likely going to be at an electrical connection or terminal, a broken or frayed wire, a faulty switch, or a bad ground connection. Currently the vehicle is in a safety mode, and tracking down the cause of the brake light switch issue needs to be the main focus. For more help resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The “brake” indicator light in the dash has two functions. It indicates that the parking brake is applied and it is also a low brake fluid level warning light.
If the brake lights are not working – you`ve found the problem. Either the brake light fuse is blown or the brake light switch is faulty. These are the most common reasons for a shifter being stuck in Park.
Brake Light
The word BRAKE displayed on your dash could be concerning since it`s both an indicator light and a warning light. First, ensure that your emergency brake is not engaged. If you disengage and the light goes out, you`re good to go. If it doesn`t, it could indicate a need for brake fluid.
The most common cause your brake lights stay on is because of a faulty brake light switch or sensor. It can also be caused by a faulty brake pedal or a malfunction in the electrical system. If you recently replaced the rear light bulbs when it occurred, you may have installed the wrong light bulbs.
Bad Switch: One common reason for the Parking Brake light to stay on is a failing or failed switch. This can be checked easily by jiggling the handle after it is down. If the light turns off (or turns off and then back on), the switch is the most likely culprit and will need to be replaced.
If the dashboard light remains on, it`s telling you that thre is a brake system problem that could prevent you from stopping your vehicle. Turn off the engine and arrange to have the vehicle transported to your trusted mechanic.
You can unjam the paw and gear shift by rocking the car back and forth. Your shifter interlock is stuck, and your car needs to be reset with the shift in the neutral or park position. Your brake switch isn`t working. It helps to see if your brake lights turn on to see whether or not they function.
If one or more of your brake lights aren`t working properly, it could mean one of three things: The brake light system fuse is blown, the brake light bulbs are burned out or the brake light wiring switch is broken. All these issues are easy to troubleshoot.
Your 2014 Nissan Maxima is equipped with a traction control system (TCS) to assist you in slippery conditions. If the TCS light flashes, it could be solely because the system is functioning properly. However, if the light stays on—or if it`s accompanied by other warning lights—there could be a mechanical issue.
The brake light bulb for your vehicle uses a twist lock type base. To remove the bulbs, gently push down to unlock them from the base, and then rotate them counterclockwise and out. If the bulb is stuck, gently working the bulb back and forth may help free it up, so that it can be removed properly.
Press and hold the EPB switch until the brake warning light on the instrument panel starts to flash. Continue to hold the switch until the flash goes off. 4. Release the switch and press it again, the parking brake should now be reset.
Broken/Detached/Frayed Cable: A broken, detached or frayed parking brake cable could be causing the malfunction. When checking, you want to ensure that your cable isn`t detached from either one or both sides. It is also important that the cable is attached to both rear brakes for it to work effectively.
The brake warning light is very serious. When you see it come on, check to make sure your emergency brake is off, then stop driving as soon as you get the chance. If you are running low on brake fluid, your brakes may stop working altogether.
If you`re driving with a loose fuel cap, an open trunk or door, or low fuel levels, you`ll see the Master Warning Light come on. The Master warning light is an exclamation point inside of a triangle.
If you put your car in gear and it won`t move, it could be because of low transmission fluid from a leak, a problem with the shifter, shifter cable, or the valve body of your automatic transmission.
On most vehicles, the tail lights are red and the brake lights are a more luminous red. Your rear lights also include back up lights, which are white.
When your brake light comes on, your car is letting you know that either your vehicle is low on brake fluid, the emergency brake is activated, there`s trouble within the ABS unit, or there`s a problem with the sensors.
The symbol is a circle containing an exclamation mark, and the circle is surrounded on each side by what look like rounded brackets. In some vehicles, there may even be the word `brake` under or next to this. The light may behave differently depending on the vehicle.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Gear stuck on park. Brake lights dont turn on. Brake light switch has been changed the problem still remains.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is likely having a connection issue somewhere around the switch. Since you have a voltmeter or test light, you will want to test for power leading up to the fuses, and then after the fuses. If you have power when pressing the light after the fuse (this means the power is making it through the fuse), continue to trace that voltage until you find where it stops. This voltage drop is most likely going to be at an electrical connection or terminal, a broken or frayed wire, a faulty switch, or a bad ground connection. Currently the vehicle is in a safety mode, and tracking down the cause of the brake light switch issue needs to be the main focus. For more help resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.
Brake lights are not working. replaced brake light swtch still no brake lights. the third brake light the connection was melted at
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to repair third brake light and replace the brake light fuse and then see if the third brake lights work and the lower lights start working? If only the 3rd brake light starts working then you may need a further checks on the turn signal flasher or switch could be bad.
I replaced the brake light switch. Gear lever unlocked because it had locked. Now the brakes feel hard.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. You need to check the brake switch install adjustment. You may have the switch adjusted too tight and it is holding the the brake pedal partly down. This will cause the brake master cylinder to not release the brakes when you let off the pedal. Readjust the switch away from the pedal until you feel some free play again in the pedal. This should fix the problem. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
I have no brake lights and third brake light I have checked all fuses and brake pedal switch and the switch is fine and I’m still
ANSWER : Hi there. Well, you’ve listed most of the usual suspects including the brake switch, fuses and tail light assembly. However, one item you might want to also check is the accessory electrical relay. In some cases, the relay that supplies power from the brake switch to the tail light assembly will cause the issues you are describing. I always recommend that home mechanics purchase a service and repair manual for their vehicle to have a schematic accessibly, so it might benefit you to purchase one online to locate this relay or feel free to have one of our mobile mechanic some to your location and complete a brake light inspection, so they can help trace this issue for you.
When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.
