Q: Brake lights and third brake lights not working

asked by on July 17, 2016

Replaced break light switch and break light bulbs when the car lights is on the brakes shine when off i have no breaks like the brakes dont get brighter

My car has 158880 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Lights (Headlamps/beams/brakes) Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

When you turn on the head lights you are seeing the parking lights come on. Check to make sure your brake light fuse is good. If it’s good, check for power going in and out of brake light when the pedal is being pushed. If you have power at the switch then go to rear brake light wiring and check for power on the white and green striped wire. If you have power when the brake is pushed then you need to look at the ground wire, the black one, and the ground in the center of the trunk. The most common problem is a broken wire at the brake switch. If you need some help with these checks, consider contacting YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to you and diagnose the issue with your lights. The mechanic can then help you with the appropriate repairs once the issue has been pinpointed. Good luck.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Van shaking and misfiring.
Hello, a P0300 is a general misfire code without pointing to any one cylinder. There should be more codes present indicating which cylinder(s) have a misfire condition. You are correct in stating that a misfire is a combustion concern. To...
Ticking noise when accelerating
Hello! Many things could result in a ticking sound (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-making-a-noise-inspection) when driving, from a fuel injector to the turning axle bearing. Any qualified mechanic, such as our YourMechanic experts, will be able to diagnose this issue for you.
Water leaking from car
Hello. If you have a coolant leak from your car that you cannot easily see, then the system needs to be pressure tested. I would typically use a cooling system pressure tester to pressurize the system to see if the...
Favorite green car for restoration
It would probably be an old Shelby Cobra from the '60s. That would be a fun one to restore. There are not many of them left, original ones at least. That would be a fun car to have even though...
Spark plug misfire and car not starting
Generally, misfires are caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, spark plug wires or ignition modules...
my car idles up and down while sitting and die out fault code p1172 p1611 circuit short to ground p0507
Hi there. Due to the fact that multiple fault codes are showing up, I'd recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete a check engine light inspection (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection); so they can pinpoint what is causing each...
Rear differential yoke leaking
If the seal rides on the shaft of the yoke, the yoke would be removed anyway to replace the seal, so there would be no extra labor to install a new yoke were the yoke worn. If the play is...
Bmw locks and window not working
The blown fuse indicates an electrical short. Since it happens when either operating the windows or door locks, the short may be somewhere in the driver's door and/or door harness. Some vehicles can develop shorts in the driver's door wiring...

Related articles

What Are Daytime Running Lights
Once Once upon a time, the average vehicle only had a handful of lights – headlights, taillights, brake lights, reverse lights and turn signals. Today, there are others, including fog lights and daytime running lights (DRL). Read on to find...
Headlight Use Laws for All 50 States
Every state has different rules and regulations on headlight use. Headlight laws vary between states, so it's a good idea to familiarize yourself.
How to Replace a Courtesy Light Switch in Most Cars
The courtesy light switch is broken if the open door does not turn on the light. This means the switch in the door jamb does not work.