It is dangerous for you and other drivers on the road on to drive at night when your tail lights or either brake lights are not working. After a while you will notice that the brake lights don’t work but the tail lights do or vice versa. Because you never know what’s going on behind the wheel while you are driving until someone points it out.
Brake and rear lights are important for vehicle safety. If one of them doesn’t work, other drivers behind you won’t notice if you’re moving. A serious accident can occur, especially on dark roads or in heavy rain and snow. The police will flag you down if you can’t find a working light.
Main Reasons for Brake Lights not Working but Tail Lights Are
There is nothing more frustrating than discovering that the brake light is not working, but the tail light is. You might think they depend on each other, but usually they don’t. Below are the most common causes of this phenomenon.
1) Fuse Block and Light Switch
The first thing to check is if the brake light fuse is blown. This fuse is usually located in the box under the hood and is easy to check. Just remove the fuse and place it in front of the light. If the internal wire is broken, then the fuse must be replaced. To find out which fuse fits your brake light, check the diagram in your car’s manual.
If you find that the fuse has blown, the easiest way to remove the fuse is to use the small plastic fuse puller stored in the fuse box. Just insert the bottom of the headrest and pull it up. If you do not have a wick, you can use a needle, but be careful not to puncture.
After removing the fuse, look at the wire inside. If it breaks, you must replace the fuse with a new one of the same amperage. If you have a new fuse, insert it into the slot until it clicks. Make sure you don’t touch the other fuses in the box while doing this, as even a small amount can blow.
After replacing the fuse, call for help from a friend by pressing the brake, and verify that they are all on. If both brake lights are good: good luck! If not, it’s time to think about other possible problems.
2) Check your Bulbs
Flashing lights are the most usually cause why brake lights are not working but flashing lights. Remove the wires from the lights (you can rote them through the wiring harness or consult your car’s repair manual to find the exact location). Insert the blub and unplug it by turning it clockwise.
You should replace the lamp when it gets dark or if the wires are damaged. Choose new lamps of the same type and power. In most European cars, one lamp does the job of the tail light and brake light. However, it has two filaments, allowing one to be run while the other is curing.
3) Electrical Ground Field
If the lights which is working, you should check if there is a ground (in some car models, the floor is provided with the switch). This could be due to poor wiring, corrosion or damage to the ends of the wires. Connect the light switch to the positive position with the jumper wire and lower the pedal. If the brake light comes on, you need to fix the ground.
4) Check the wiring
If all of the above components are working properly, you will need to look elsewhere to find the source of the problem. The wires from the fuse box to the brake light and from the switch to the lights and lamps may be brittle or such a problem, you should change these settings.
5) Check signal switching direction
The brake circuit may be part of the signal circuit in engine mode. If the switch is damage or faulty, the brake light will not come on. Look at the wiring diagram and find the signal wire connection between the brake light and the turn signal switch.
Connect the power cord to the electrical outlet, use the brake light by pressing the brake pedal and inspect the wire with the test light. If the test lamp is flashing, replace this cable.
Difference Between Brakes light and the Tail Lights
In modern cars, taillights and brake lights are usually separate lights. The standard light comes on when the headlights are on, allowing the vehicle to be seen from behind. Brake lights are activated when the driver brakes, warning other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down or stopping. On some cars or older models, the tail lights and brake lights may have the same lights, but on most modern cars they are different.