Q: Passenger-side brake light won't work even after replacing bulb

asked by on May 20, 2016

The brake light (passenger side) went out. I replaced the bulb and the other one while I was at it. But the passenger side brake light still doesn't work. Even tried switching bulbs to use the one that I knew was working on driver's side, but still wouldn't work on passenger side. I see that there's only one fuse control for both lights. Can you tell me how to fix this. Your help is really appreciated.

Brake light is not working Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Since the problem is only on one side, you can rule out the fuse and other parts of the circuit that are shared by both bulbs. I would look closely at the connector for the nonfunctional bulb, as it may be damaged or corroded. If the bulb looks OK, you’ll want to test for power and ground at the bulb. Since the bulbs share more of the same circuit components, lack of power indicates a problem in the power side wiring. No ground would indicate a bad ground connection or a problem with the wiring on the ground side of the circuit. Electrical diagnosis can be difficult, which is why I suggest having a trained professional diagnose your brake light problem for you. The team at YourMechanic is an excellent option since we make house calls.

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

How do I turn the Blind Spot Monitor on and off?
The Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) detects when a vehicle is entering an area you can’t see with your regular mirrors. It can help prevent an accident if you attempt to switch lanes by alerting you to a vehicle in your...
Engine noise
I believe your air conditioning compressor may be locking up and causing the belt to squeal. The compressor has a clutch that engages the compressor when the A/C is turned on and after a while they may fail and lock...
Stuck while shifting from second gear to third gear at high RPMs
Chevrolet has a TSB out about a failure with the pressure plate causing hard shifts. The first thing to check is the clutch pedal level when the clutch is being operated if the pedal goes close to or is touching...
Turned off won't start now it will crank but not start.
This can be a number of different issues for your 2008 Dodge Avenger. If the vehicle will crank, that is definitely a place to start. As you may know, in order for your vehicle to start, you need to make...
Truck started in neutral once, now it won't start at all
This is just a guess, but the problem could be with the gear selector or the transmission position switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-position-sensor-switch-replacement). The starter relay will not close and the vehicle will not crank, unless the switch is in the neutral or...
Power lock will lock passenger door but won't unlock them
Hi there. There could be an issue with the power lock fob for your vehicle and may need replaced. If when you push on the unlock button and you don't hear anything, then the button on the power lock fob...
Why does the car stop suddenly?
This may be related to a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at...
Emitting smoke out tailpipe after spark plug and valve cover replacement, no overheating, after a week spark have black oil deposi
It's pretty common for the spark plug tube seals to fail, allowing the tubes to fill with oil. It could be that when you performed the repair, the seals didn't get installed properly. Other potential causes for your oil-soaked plugs...
Should the "VDC" light be on or off? 2012 Nissan Xterra
Hi there - when the "VDC (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/what-does-the-vehicle-dynamic-control-vdc-warning-light-mean)" light is illuminated on your dashboard, that means that Vehicle Dynamic Control is "OFF". It should be "ON" normally, so that it automatically steps in to reduce power when wheel spin is detected...

Related articles

A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Scion tC
In In general, Scion has been a car manufacturer that continues to climb in popularity. Perhaps no model exemplifies this more than the 2012 Scion tC. Back in 2011, Scion gave this vehicle a facelift and, by the following year,...
How to Buy a Good Quality License Plate Light
Whether Whether you are replacing a license plate light, or adding one to your vehicle to be sure that your license plate is visible in all sorts of weather, buying a good quality license plate light can be simple. Cops...
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.