{"id":122297,"date":"2024-11-26T23:57:27","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T07:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=122297"},"modified":"2025-02-03T23:14:43","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T07:14:43","slug":"troubleshooting-a-brake-light-thats-not-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/troubleshooting-a-brake-light-thats-not-working\/","title":{"rendered":"Troubleshooting a Brake Light That\u2019s Not Working"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 8<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_939d9a-d9 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-b7cd5f  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-aaf1b8\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading122297_79044e-c9\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There are a variety of electrical system issues that can lead to brake light problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If one or more brake lights aren&rsquo;t working, but at least one brake light is, then you or a mechanic can check the brake light bulbs, sockets, and wires and connectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If all the brake lights aren&rsquo;t working, you or a professional can look at the brake light fuse or brake light switch. It&rsquo;s also possible that an electrical ground is causing the issue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If one or all of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/brake-light-replacement-causes-of-brake-light-failure-costs-and-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"brake lights isn&rsquo;t working\">brake lights isn&rsquo;t working<\/a>, it can be a cause for alarm. After all, brake lights are an essential part of driver communication while on the road. You&rsquo;ll earn a traffic ticket if one or all of them are inoperative. The minute you notice one of your brake lights is on the fritz, you ought to look into it. Here are some troubleshooting tips for how to test brake lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brake Light Issues and What To Check<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-wiring-diagram-1024x446.jpg\" alt=\"diagram of a brake light wiring\" class=\"wp-image-130597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-wiring-diagram-1024x446.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-wiring-diagram-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-wiring-diagram-768x334.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-wiring-diagram-150x65.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-wiring-diagram.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Before you start working on your stop lights, realize that not all of them are hardwired through the switch. Some are output based on the BCM&rsquo;s receiving switch input. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On older vehicles, the switch is fed B+ power protected by a fuse. When you press on the brakes, the switch closes and power is delivered through the turn signal switch to the lights unless the turn signals don&rsquo;t share the same bulbs with the brake lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the turn and stop lights have a shared function, the turn signal switch re-routes the current to the corresponding bulb through the turn signal flasher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/turn-signal-electrical-diagram-1024x611.jpg\" alt=\"electrical diagram of a car turn signal light\" class=\"wp-image-130598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/turn-signal-electrical-diagram-1024x611.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/turn-signal-electrical-diagram-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/turn-signal-electrical-diagram-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/turn-signal-electrical-diagram-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/turn-signal-electrical-diagram.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The turn signal switch has its own power feed so the turn signal on the rear will work even if the stop lights aren&rsquo;t engaged (see diagram). | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One or More Brake Lights Not Working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If one or more brake lights aren&rsquo;t working, but the other lights are operational, you can likely blame faulty bulbs, fuses, or sockets.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_7c7a04-d6 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id122297_f775c5-df alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column122297_599abd-5e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_599abd-5e kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87 .image-is-svg, .kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image122297_ddb6a8-87\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_604dae-87{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_604dae-87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_604dae-87 inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            On vehicles with LED stop lights, it may be in the LED assembly. If the high mount stop lamp works but neither of the regular stop lamps work, it may be an issue with the turn signal switch, because the center high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) isn&rsquo;t wired through the turn switch.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bulbs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Checking and changing out your vehicle&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/brake-light-bulb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"brake light bulbs\">brake light bulbs<\/a> is pretty simple. You&rsquo;ll usually need to go through the vehicle&rsquo;s trunk or fender to remove the casing or bulb trim. Afterwards, unscrew the bulb and inspect it for damage. If you see damage on the bulb&rsquo;s housing or filament, it&rsquo;s time for a new bulb. You can check your vehicle&rsquo;s manual for details on how to reach the bulbs and what kind of replacement bulbs you need to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Older type bulbs grounded through the bulb casing and had the contacts on the bottom. Newer bulbs receive power and ground through the little wires on the base of the bulb, but sometimes they just stop getting contact even though the filaments aren&rsquo;t blown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can clean the wire contacts on the 3157 style bulb with a pencil eraser and bring them back to life. The 1157 type bulb will usually burn out an element. But you need to make sure you&rsquo;re getting the right bulb for your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-bulb-styles-1024x535.jpg\" alt=\"two different brake light bulb styles\" class=\"wp-image-130802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-bulb-styles-1024x535.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-bulb-styles-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-bulb-styles-768x401.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-bulb-styles-150x78.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-bulb-styles.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 3157 style wedge type bulb shown on the left will plug in either way. The 1157 will only plug in one way because the posts on the bayonet aren&rsquo;t aligned the same. Push in and turn. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sockets<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Sockets are another point of failure for individual bulbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"brake light assembly board image\" class=\"wp-image-130803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-assembly-board.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some lamp assemblies have entire boards with all the sockets on the board so that the board has to be replaced (see photo). | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can typically reach them the same way you reached the bulbs. Depending on your vehicle though, further testing might require more disassembly. It can become a very complicated procedure very quickly because you&rsquo;re working with the electrical system, so be careful and take your vehicle to the auto repair shop if you aren&rsquo;t confident with your DIY abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check the brake light sockets visually for discoloration, contact corrosion, or distortion. You can also check their voltage using a voltmeter. Have a friend depress the brakes and touch the socket&rsquo;s terminals with a voltmeter. If there&rsquo;s no voltage, probe the wires behind the socket. Be careful not to damage the wire, or it&rsquo;ll cause more issues down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there&rsquo;s no voltage at all from the wire, you can likely blame a bad turn signal switch or a broken connector. If there&rsquo;s voltage between the wires and ground, check the ground wire for continuity with an ohmmeter. If there&rsquo;s continuity, replace the whole socket or board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wires and Connectors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If power isn&rsquo;t even reaching the socket, it&rsquo;s possible that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/brake-light-wiring-101-how-it-works-and-fixing-common-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"wires and connectors\">wires and connectors<\/a> in the system are to blame. It&rsquo;s best to trust a professional auto electrician with inspecting and repairing the wires and connectors linking your vehicle&rsquo;s brake lights to the rest of the electrical system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They have access to wiring diagrams for different vehicle systems, and can adequately test and replace pertinent parts. They can check that the right amount of voltage is flowing through the socket wires, and check for voltage along the circuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">All Brake Lights Not Working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the BCM is involved with the brake lights, plug in a professional grade scan tool that will talk to the BCM (cheap code readers won&rsquo;t do this), and check to see if the BCM is receiving a brake signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also tell the scan tool to turn on the brake lights and see if the BCM is able to turn them on. If it&rsquo;s getting a signal but can&rsquo;t turn on the lights, you&rsquo;ll need to investigate this. If it&rsquo;s not getting a signal but the BCM can be commanded to turn the brake lights on, the switch should be investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/bussing-block-1024x270.jpg\" alt=\"image of a bussing block\" class=\"wp-image-130804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/bussing-block-1024x270.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/bussing-block-300x79.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/bussing-block-768x203.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/bussing-block-150x40.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/bussing-block.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some vehicles have a &ldquo;bussing block&rdquo; under the back near the bumper that fails (see photo). | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_e78d4a-62 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id122297_87f07f-f0 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column122297_b04877-5b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_b04877-5b kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image122297_bb034f-3c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image122297_bb034f-3c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image122297_bb034f-3c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image122297_bb034f-3c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image122297_bb034f-3c figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image122297_bb034f-3c .image-is-svg, .kb-image122297_bb034f-3c .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image122297_bb034f-3c .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image122297_bb034f-3c\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column122297_3c7f90-ba inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            On older vehicles, if all your vehicle&rsquo;s brake lights aren&rsquo;t working, turn on the hazard flashers to see if the stop lamp bulbs illuminate that way on a vehicle where the hazards and the stop lamps use the same bulbs. If they come on when the hazard flashers are engaged, you&rsquo;ve eliminated a large part of the circuit, the bulbs, the sockets, etc. that way.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brake Light Fuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If all your brake lights aren&rsquo;t working, your vehicle likely has an electrical system issue. If a busted fuse is to blame, you&rsquo;re in luck. It should be a quick fix. The brake light system&rsquo;s fuse protects it from amperage overloads. If an electrical component blows out, the fuses protect the rest of the vehicle from frying. A failed fuse does also keeps electricity from reaching your lights though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check your vehicle&rsquo;s fuse box either under the dashboard or the hood. Your vehicle&rsquo;s manual should indicate the brake light fuse&rsquo;s position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"868\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-fuses-1024x868.jpg\" alt=\"brake light fuses image\" class=\"wp-image-130805\" style=\"width:1024px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-fuses-1024x868.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-fuses-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-fuses-768x651.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-fuses-150x127.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/brake-light-fuses.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Grab a test light and press one end to a ground source. Then, press the tester&rsquo;s tip to the fuses&rsquo; ends one at a time (see photo). | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a friend press gently on the gas pedal while the vehicle&rsquo;s parking brake is engaged. If the light illuminates on both ends, the fuse is good and the problem lies elsewhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the light illuminates on only one side of the fuse though, that points to a faulty fuse. The same goes if the test light doesn&rsquo;t illuminate at all. Pick up a replacement fuse with the same amp rating, and once you replace the fuse, you can test it again. Once both ends trigger a light, you&rsquo;ve repaired the broken brake light switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s best to have an auto electrician check for electrical system issues in other parts of the system if the brake light fuse regularly fails. A blown fuse is often a sign of further issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brake Light Switch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also check the vehicle&rsquo;s brake light switch if the fuse and brake light bulbs aren&rsquo;t working. The brake light switch is a basic two-wire switch that connects and completes the brake light circuit. You can find the switch near the brake pedals and test it using a test light. One end of the test light should go on the ground, and the sensor should link to one of the switch&rsquo;s two wires. If the bulb lights up, the switch is fine. Replace the switch if the light doesn&rsquo;t illuminate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More complicated systems with more than two wires exist, and you might need to check your vehicle&rsquo;s owner&rsquo;s manual to find the proper &ldquo;power in&rdquo; and &ldquo;power out&rdquo; wires to test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electrical Ground<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s possible that electrical grounds are to blame for your brake lights not working. Grounds happen when the power gets redirected away from the circuit and to a ground, keeping the power from reaching the lights. A bit of corrosion along a wire is all it takes for a ground. A professional mechanic can search for grounds throughout your vehicle&rsquo;s electrical system using a voltmeter set to Continuity or Ohms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brake Light Not Turning Off<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle&rsquo;s brake light stays on even when the brake isn&rsquo;t depressed, check the brake light switch or sensor for proper adjustment. Also check the grommet in the brake pedal to see if it has fallen out and left nothing but a hole so that the switch isn&rsquo;t operating. A faulty brake pedal or incorrect bulbs can also cause this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turn Signal Turns On Instead of Brake Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the turn signal engages instead of your vehicle&rsquo;s brake lights when you depress the brakes, look at the bulbs, brake light switch, and the sockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you know how to troubleshoot brake lights that&rsquo;re not working. Remember to bring your vehicle to a professional mechanic if you need to. You might be able to repair your brake lights yourself, but it&rsquo;s always safer to go with the professional option if you aren&rsquo;t sure of your DIY abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a Replacement Brake Light<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s not recommended to drive a vehicle with a bad <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/brake-light-bulb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"brake light\">brake light<\/a> because it&rsquo;s a vital component when it comes to communicating with other drivers. People won&rsquo;t know when you&rsquo;re braking, meaning you become significantly more likely to get into a collision accident. Because of this, it&rsquo;s important to replace an inoperative brake light as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, with the help of <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>, finding a replacement brake light that&rsquo;s designed to work with your vehicle has never been easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get started, visit our website or download our mobile app. Input the year, make, and model of your ride in our vehicle selector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We source our auto parts from the most trusted names in the industry. You won&rsquo;t have to worry about your new brake lights failing you any time soon &mdash; especially since every item in our catalog is vetted by a team of professionals to guarantee both quality and longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best part? You won&rsquo;t even have to take one step beyond your doorstep to get your hands on what you want, nor will you have to wait for long. Our warehouses are strategically located all over the US, so expect to receive your orders within a matter of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&rsquo;t hold off on replacing bad brake lights. Browse our catalog today.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 8<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>If one or all of your brake lights isn&rsquo;t working, it can be a cause for alarm. After all, brake&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/troubleshooting-a-brake-light-thats-not-working\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":122604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3745,52],"tags":[3731,1800],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-122297","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-car-lights","8":"category-diy","9":"tag-brake-light-bulb","10":"tag-brake-light-switch","11":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Troubleshooting a Brake Light That\u2019s Not Working - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Brake lights are important for driver-to-driver communication on the road. Here\u2019s how to troubleshoot brake lights that aren\u2019t working.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/troubleshooting-a-brake-light-thats-not-working\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Troubleshooting a Brake Light That\u2019s Not Working - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Brake lights are important for driver-to-driver communication on the road. 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