I replaced the tailight assembly but the the brake light still won’t turn on.
So on my Sentra i left it in the parking lot it got hail and also someone stole the headlights out of it. I replaced a new bulb in the headlight. But in the tail lights I turn them on their work but when I press the brakes they don't work. So I went to Nissan got 2 new tailgate assembly and I plug em in, turn the beam on they work back up lights works but the brake lights don't work. Please help me I need to get to work on my brake lights do not work.
My car has 25000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
You will need to do some further testing to figure out where the issue is. This is going to require you trace the power supply from the brake pedal to the bulb. All of the following can be the cause and should be check out. Luckily the brake light circuit is not extremely complicated. The connection to the brake lights is most likely not being made. This can be do to the brake light sensor located at the brake pedal. It can be due to a short or wiring damage between the switch and the bulb. The issue may be the wiring terminal into the brake light assembly. It may be the bulb socket. Have you checked all related fuses? Using a voltmeter, you can test for available voltage across all of these components and find where the voltage drop occurs. That will be the component which has failed and needs to be replaced.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Check Your Fuses
The first thing to check is whether or not the brake light fuse has blown. This fuse is usually located in the fuse box under the hood, and it`s relatively easy to check. Just remove the fuse and hold it up to a light – if the wire inside is broken, then you`ll need to replace the fuse.
This is most often a result of a bad ground. Your lighting has common grounds in several spots on the car. In order to locate them you will need a wiring diagram. Keep in mind, not all wiring diagram give ground locations.
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.
On newer cars, the tail lamps can be fused separately and/or each bulb or shared circuit can be fused. A fuse can be blown due to other problems, so you`ll need to check more than just the fuse, but it`s the right place to start. Look in your owner`s manual to determine where the fuse box is located in your car.
And because the taillights and brake lights do not share the same circuit, confirming the ground as a potential cause is not a task that needs much analysis.
On many vehicles, the tail lights and brake lights share the same bulb. One filament inside the bulb is for the tail light and the other filament is for the brake light. There are also some vehicles that have a separate bulb for each circuit.
If your brake light keeps flickering on and off while driving, it might be time for a brake inspection to check for faulty brake mechanisms or brake pad wear. It`s important to remember that failing brakes put you at risk when on the road and other motorists around you.
It is a 15amp fuse that powers the stop light switch on the brake pedal. The brake light switch sends power to rear brake lights.
Tail lights are engaged when the you turn on your headlights or when your parking brake is on, whereas the brake lights will light up immediately when you apply pressure to the brakes. On most vehicles, the tail lights are red and the brake lights are a more luminous red.
Tail lights are wired to the same switch that turns on the head lights, making them function easily. If you have automatic lights, the tail lights will turn on when your vehicle is on. If you use a switch to turn your vehicle`s lights on, the tail lights will illuminate once your head lights are on.
Your rear lights are controlled through the same switch that controls the headlights. Power is channeled through a relay to the rear lights, illuminating them when the switch is engaged.
Any loose, frayed, damaged, or otherwise faulty wiring in your tail light system will usually not affect your brake lights because they are powered by different wiring systems.
Tail light relays are a vital part of any car on the road. Relays take out a manual aspect, or possibility for human error, in an electrical process. Tail light relays are linked to the headlight system of your car.
If the light does not work with a new bulb, check whether the circuit breaker or fuse governing the fixture has tripped or blown. This often happens when a bulb burns out the moment it is turned on. For safety when resetting a breaker or changing a fuse, stand on a dry surface.
In North America, since 1986, all vehicles feature a third brake light. Legally, this is called the Center High Mount Stop Lamp, CHMSL for short, but informally called center brake lamp, high-level or eye-level brake lamp, cyclops brake light, or safety brake lamp.
Brake Light Circuits
Some vehicles have a bulb dedicated to each tail light function. These are called three bulb tail light systems. Each side of the vehicle has a bulb dedicated to the turning light, the brake light, and the running lights.
The P0504 code is defined as “Brake Switch A/B Correlation” and is a generic diagnostic trouble code (DTC) generated by the engine control module (ECM) of your car. P0504 indicates that the ECM has detected a malfunction in the brake light switch signal circuit (stop lamp or stop light switch circuit).
The most common reasons your brake light is on: The Parking Brake is engaged. Brake Fluid is low or leaking. Worn brake pads.
The brake pedal switch is a two-position electric switch that is spring-loaded. There are two operational states: ON and OFF, which produce a signal indicating whether the pedal is pressed or not.
The Difference Between Brake Lights and Tail Lights
Your vehicle`s might be a bit unique, with separate globes. Tail lights are engaged when the you turn on your headlights or when your parking brake is on, whereas the brake lights will light up immediately when you apply pressure to the brakes.
What the P0557 code means. The P0577 code identifies a pressure problem within the brake booster. When the brake booster pressure sensor fails to send a voltage input signal to the PCM that is satisfactory (or proportionate to the vehicle velocity required) the P0557 code will be stored.
The Difference Between Brake Lights and Tail Lights
Your vehicle`s might be a bit unique, with separate globes. Tail lights are engaged when the you turn on your headlights or when your parking brake is on, whereas the brake lights will light up immediately when you apply pressure to the brakes.
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.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
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.
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.
I replaced the tailight assembly but the the brake light still won’t turn on.
ANSWER : You will need to do some further testing to figure out where the issue is. This is going to require you trace the power supply from the brake pedal to the bulb. All of the following can be the cause and should be check out. Luckily the brake light circuit is not extremely complicated. The connection to the brake lights is most likely not being made. This can be do to the brake light sensor located at the brake pedal. It can be due to a short or wiring damage between the switch and the bulb. The issue may be the wiring terminal into the brake light assembly. It may be the bulb socket. Have you checked all related fuses? Using a voltmeter, you can test for available voltage across all of these components and find where the voltage drop occurs. That will be the component which has failed and needs to be replaced.
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.
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.
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.
