My tail lights stay on even after car is off. The hazard lights and turning signals all work but the brake lights do not.
My tail lights stay on even after car is off. The hazard lights and turning signals all work but the brake lights do not.
My car has 120000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If the tail lights are illuminated even after you have used the on-off switch to command them off, that means the switch supplying power is fused shut and/or the circuit is being powered when it is not supposed to be due to a wiring fault. To resolve an issue such as that, the circuit powering the lights has to be traced, starting with the devices that should indeed be "off" if commanded off (such as the light switch, relay, etc.). If the brake lights are not functioning, it is possible the filaments in both bulbs are burned out and that possibility should be ruled out first. If the bulbs are OK, the brake light switch and the rest of the circuit will have to be traced. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an electrical circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this problem resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
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.
Often, a bad fuse is to blame. Wiring—once again, wiring issues are key to pinpointing this problem. 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.
Most oldr cars the headlights were on a separate circuit not switched through the ignition so that the lights could be used without the car being on. Naturally they will stay on after you switch off the ignition but you can run down the battery if you forget to turn them off.
Blown Fuse or Broken Fuse Box
If your brake light switch works perfectly fine and yet the brake light doesn`t illuminate, you should check for a blown fuse or a broken fuse box. This is important because both these components affect the brake light circuit.
The switch itself may be faulty and not able to properly turn off the circuit that controls the lights. Wiring issue: There could be an issue with the wiring, such as a short circuit or a loose connection, that is allowing electricity to flow to the lights even when the switch is off.
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.
Daytime running lamps stay on while the car is off
If the lights remain on even after the key has been removed, then that may be a sign that the module has possibly had an internal or wiring short and is supplying power to the lights even when it is not supposed to.
The purpose of daytime running lights is to increase the visibility of your car, so that other drivers can see you on the road. At night, your headlights and tail lights are illuminated, which means that it`s easy for other drivers to spot you.
Even if your lights, radio or accessories turn on, your battery may still be dead or undercharged. These components require a lot less power than the starter. Therefore, your battery may have enough ability to turn the radio/lights on, but not enough to turn on the starter.
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.
The terminals that each individual circuit connects to are very close together, if corrosion builds up on the terminals, the 12-volt accessory circuit can actually bleed over to the other circuits and apply power to them. Clean or replace the trailer connectors as needed, which should solve your problem.
Some newer vehicles` dashboards are constantly backlit. It`s daytime… so, tail lights aren`t needed. In reality, tail lights are an important part of being seen from behind, especially in winter when days are shorter and snow, rain, fog, and all-around dreariness are common 24 hours a day.
Locate the switch near the top of the brake pedal underneath the dash. Have an assistant stand behind the vehicle. Check if the stopper is on the pedal. Press the brake pedal to gain access to the switch, and press button on the brake light switch.
Every car`s brake lights are supposed to work even if the key isn`t in the ignition. It`s a safety feature.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific 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.
My tail lights stay on even after car is off. The hazard lights and turning signals all work but the brake lights do not.
ANSWER : If the tail lights are illuminated even after you have used the on-off switch to command them off, that means the switch supplying power is fused shut and/or the circuit is being powered when it is not supposed to be due to a wiring fault. To resolve an issue such as that, the circuit powering the lights has to be traced, starting with the devices that should indeed be "off" if commanded off (such as the light switch, relay, etc.). If the brake lights are not functioning, it is possible the filaments in both bulbs are burned out and that possibility should be ruled out first. If the bulbs are OK, the brake light switch and the rest of the circuit will have to be traced. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an electrical circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this problem resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
When I use the turn signals, both tail lights blink like hazard lights.
ANSWER : Hello. Without knowing exactly what wiring work was performed its nearly impossible to say definitively what the issue is. The brake light circuit and the turn signal circuit have crossed paths somewhere. The wires carrying the power supply from the turn signal switch is connected or touching the brake wires. The hazard light button is essentially an additional power source and switch for the turn signal circuit. With both brake lights blinking, the hazard light circuit may be crosses in as well.
Do you own a voltmeter or a way to measure available voltage? You are going to need to trace the wiring work you performed and find where the connection is jumping circuits. Having an official repair manual or wiring diagram will help a lot. Make sure once your issue is found that the wires are secured properly and protected from the elements and from other circuits.
If you’re unable to solve the issue yourself, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come to your location to diagnose the issue with your turn signals and help you make the right repair.
My car shuts off when I turn on the light or even the turn signals please help need this car to get to work
ANSWER : Hi there. This type of electrical glitch can be very difficult to pinpoint or diagnose without a physical inspection. However, in general, the most common causes of this issue is an exposed electrical wire within the ignition system. It is best to have a professional mechanic complete an electrical problems inspection first in order to correctly diagnose and resolve this issue.
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.
brake lights do not work, but running lights, turn signals, and hazards do.
ANSWER : Hi there. One of the negative drawbacks to purchasing a retired military or police vehicle is that often the original owners or department will disable many of the electrical system components that power specialty systems (including their emergency lights). This makes it very difficult to pinpoint electrical gremlins like you are describing without being onsite to complete an electrical problems inspection. You might want to set up an appointment to have one of our mechanics come to your location and help you trace this issue.
My front flashers turn signals and brake lights dont work. I have replaced the bulbs and checked the fuses. What could cause these
ANSWER : The different lights all go through the turn signal light turn switch. If the brake light switch is not working at all then the third brake light would not work. You will need to replace turn signal switch and check brake light switch also and replace it if no third brake light is working.
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.
