Brake light not working (bulb is fine)
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Mudding
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 169
Likes: 78
From: Wisconsin
Brake light not working (bulb is fine)
Searched the forum and couldnt find an answer. Apologies if this has been covered before...
My driver-side brake light wont light up. Bulb is fine. The other lights in both tail assembly all work (running light, blinker and the brake on passenger side). Any ideas how to fix?
My driver-side brake light wont light up. Bulb is fine. The other lights in both tail assembly all work (running light, blinker and the brake on passenger side). Any ideas how to fix?
Last edited by Trailmix; Oct 22, 2023 at 05:19 PM.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 950
From: Charlotte
Years ago I had a brake light or turn signal not working with symptoms like you describe. I don't recall which it was. It turned out there was corrosion in the socket where the bulb was installed, so check for corrosion in the socket and behind it where the harness connector plugs into the assembly. Sometimes the act of unplugging and reattaching a connector can provide just enought "scrape" to get a circuit working again.
Three Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 88
Likes: 45
Agreed with MLN01 - I had a similar issue where the brakes would light up the running lights and all sorts of other weird lighting issues in one of the taillights. Ended up being a corroded ground on one of the bulb sockets that was causing the light to ground through another light circuit. Bending the tab out a little after hitting it with some sandpaper fixed that issue.
Thread Starter
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Mudding
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 169
Likes: 78
From: Wisconsin
Agreed with MLN01 - I had a similar issue where the brakes would light up the running lights and all sorts of other weird lighting issues in one of the taillights. Ended up being a corroded ground on one of the bulb sockets that was causing the light to ground through another light circuit. Bending the tab out a little after hitting it with some sandpaper fixed that issue.
Years ago I had a brake light or turn signal not working with symptoms like you describe. I don't recall which it was. It turned out there was corrosion in the socket where the bulb was installed, so check for corrosion in the socket and behind it where the harness connector plugs into the assembly. Sometimes the act of unplugging and reattaching a connector can provide just enought "scrape" to get a circuit working again.
Thread Starter
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Mudding
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 169
Likes: 78
From: Wisconsin
The mystery deepens.
Both sockets look new. No corrosion.
both bulbs work.
all fuses are good.
1) when applying brake, bottom bulb lights.
2) when headlights on, bottom bulb lights very bright but applying brake has no impact.
3) when use left blinker, top bulb lights.
So, the issue is that when my headlights are on and i apply brakes, theres no brake light.
Both sockets look new. No corrosion.
both bulbs work.
all fuses are good.
1) when applying brake, bottom bulb lights.
2) when headlights on, bottom bulb lights very bright but applying brake has no impact.
3) when use left blinker, top bulb lights.
So, the issue is that when my headlights are on and i apply brakes, theres no brake light.
Last edited by Trailmix; Oct 28, 2023 at 08:54 AM.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 834
From: Staten Island, NY
Sounds like you have the brake bulbs rotated by 180 degrees so the wrong filament is lighting for the tail lights. The bulbs should have offset bayonet lugs to prevent this, but on my '99 it was very easy to put them bulbs in the wrong way around.
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Mudding
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 169
Likes: 78
From: Wisconsin
no, thats not it.
