Why does the brake light not turn on? Investigating the causes of the brake light not turning on

According to the online economy report; Brake lights look very simple. Press the brake pedal and they turn on, release your foot and they turn off. There are many things that can and do go wrong. When your brake lights don’t work, this article can help you find your problem.

Why are my brake lights not working?

When your brake lights don’t work, it’s usually because of a blown fuse, a worn or damaged brake light switch, or a burned out bulb.

And in most cars, the brake light system is usually a simple circuit that includes the brake light switch, bulbs, fuses, and wiring that connects these devices together. So troubleshooting the system is usually fairly simple and something that average car owners can do themselves.

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Brake lights on

In this article, you will find the most common brake light issues. Just go to the appropriate section for your brake light condition: One or more lights are not working (that is, at least one of the lights is working). None of the brake lights work. The brake lights stay on and refuse to turn off.

Also, to repair your car’s electricity, especially to repair your car’s lights, read the following article and contact our technician and ask for help:

If one or more lights do not work:

If at least one brake light works, but one or two others don’t, it’s relatively easier to troubleshoot than dealing with a circuit where none of the lights work.

If only the third brake light or the lower two lights work, start by checking the circuit fuses first. In some car models, a fuse is intended for the two lower brake lights and another one for the third light. Then continue with the next steps.

Remove the bulb but push it down and turn it counterclockwise, about 1/4 turn at a time, and pull the bulb free.

Check each bulb. If the lamp is darkened, most likely the lamp itself is damaged and just needs to be replaced. Also, check that the filaments are not in good condition (broken or burnt). If not, replace the bulb(s). If you need to replace the bulb, install one of the same type and wattage. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual or vehicle repair manual.

If the bulbs look good, use your digital multimeter (DMM) to check the outlet voltage:

Set your multimeter to DC voltage and push the red lead to one of the socket contacts and the black lead to the wall of the socket. Ask the assistant to press the brake pedal

If there is voltage, you most likely have a bad bulb. If there is no voltage, repeat the test but this time connect the black test lead to chassis ground (look for a colored metal surface, screw or bracket).

If voltage is present, check for poor ground connection at outlet (go to next step).

If there is still no voltage, check the lamp socket for corrosion, loose wires and condition. Also, check for a damaged or loose power wire between the socket and the brake light switch.

If necessary, remove corrosion using a wire brush.

To check the ground connection in the outlet:

Connect a jumper wire between the ground side of the socket and a good chassis ground. While the lamp is on, press the brake pedal (use a jumper wire in the electrical connection of the brake light switch).

If the lamp lights up, repair the socket ground connection.

If the light still doesn’t work, look for an open in the wire from the brake light to the brake light switch.

None of the brake lights work

When none of the brake lights work, you should focus on components or devices that may affect the entire circuit: this includes the fuse, the brake light circuit, the headlight switch (in some car models ) and is a part of circuit feeding. If current reaching the brake light circuit is the problem, start your diagnosis with the fuse and the following parts.

Brake light circuits usually use blade fuses for protection.

Checking the fuse:

When none of the brake lights work, the first thing to check is the fuse.

Locate the fuse. If you know where the fuse panel or power distribution center is located in your car, look for the stop light fuse. If you don’t know where the fuses are, refer to your vehicle owner’s manual. The most common location for a fuse panel is under the dashboard, on the driver’s or passenger’s side, or both, or under the hood (power distribution center).

Car brake light fuse

Remove the fuse panel cover and look under the cover for the description of each fuse to find the one you are looking for.

Once you find the fuse, pull it out. On some car models, you may find a polar fuse right on the box plate. Or use a pair of needle nose pliers to carefully pull the fuse. The most common type of fuse used today comes in a small, clear plastic box. A fuse has spade connections at each end, and the fuse element is a narrow metal strip that connects both connectors.

You can usually tell that a fuse is blown by looking at the fuse element through the clear plastic case. However, if you need to confirm that the fuse is still good, you can check it using a digital multimeter.

Set your multimeter to Continuity or to low on the Ohm scale.

Touch each fuse connection with a multimeter lead.

You should hear a beep if the fuse is in good condition (if using continuity settings), or close to zero ohms (no resistance) if using an ohm scale. This means your fuse is good. If you don’t hear a beep or your meter reads infinite resistance, the fuse is bad.

If the fuse needs to be replaced, replace it with another one of the same amperage. The amperage is marked on the fuse box. Also, if the fuse is blown, you need to find out what caused the fuse to blow. You may be dealing with a short circuit.

Brake lights stay on:

Another common problem is that the lights won’t turn off. Some vehicle models use a brake light switch configuration that allows the switch to move to its normal position when the brake pedal is depressed. Stepping on the brake pedal releases the key to turn on the brake lights. When the switch is worn or out of position, it may cause the lights to stay on.

Troubleshooting brake lights that do not turn off:

Press the brake pedal with your hand and see how the movement of the pedal is related to the operation of the brake light switch. To solve the problem, you just need to reset the switch.

To adjust, disconnect the linkage and turn the switch to move the sensor (piston) toward or away from the pedal, depending on your specific situation. Place the contact point so that you don’t need to press too hard on the pedal before the brake lights come on. Remember you want the brake lights to come on with the pedal. Also, see if the position of the switch can be adjusted, you may just need to move the switch back to the correct position relative to the pedal. Another possibility is is that the internal switch mechanism is worn out and the switch needs to be replaced. Consult your vehicle’s repair manual if necessary.

Keep in mind that in rare cases, you may be dealing with a short circuit (blown fuse) or an open circuit. In this case, checking the voltage drop can help determine the fault. Also, some car models include a relay as part of the system control. If necessary, also check the relay