How to check car brake lights
Auto repair

How to check car brake lights

09.11.2022 /

Stoplights are one of the many important safety features we take for granted in our vehicles. Most cars are equipped with three brake lights: left, right and center. The center stop light is commonly known by various names: center, high, or even third stop. Brake lights fail for many reasons, often due to a burned out light bulb causing one or more brake lights to not work. In other cases, the brake light system may have a complete brake light failure.

Many cars don't have a "bulb burnt out" indicator, so it's important to walk around the car from time to time and check the bulbs to make sure they're all working properly.

Part 1 of 2: Checking the Brake Lamps

Necessary materials

  • Fuses
  • Pencil with eraser
  • Ratchets/bits set
  • Replacing the lamp

  • Sandpaper

  • Functions: Gluing a small piece of sandpaper to the tip of a pencil eraser makes it easier to clean the lamp socket contacts.

Step 1: Find the burned out light bulbs. Have a friend step on the brake pedal while you watch the car from behind to determine which bulb is burned out.

Step 2: Remove the bulb. Some vehicles have easy access to the tail/brake light assemblies at the rear, either inside the trunk or inside the trunk lid, depending on the application. In other cases, the rear/brake light assembly may need to be removed. Bulb access according to your vehicle.

Step 3: Replace the light bulb. Once the bulb is out, it's time to use a pencil eraser with sandpaper to clean the contacts in the bulb socket.

Insert a new bulb. Have a friend apply the brake before reinstalling the lamp assembly to check its operation.

Part 2 of 2: Checking the brake light fuses

Step 1: Check the fuses. Using your vehicle's owner's manual, locate the brake light fuse. Many modern cars have more than one fuse box in different locations.

Step 2: Replace the fuse if it's blown. Fuses can sometimes blow simply due to age. If you find that the brake lights fuse is blown, replace it and check the brake lights. If the fuse remained intact, then it may simply have blown due to age.

If the fuse blows again immediately or after a few days, there is a short in the brake light circuit.

  • Attention: If your car's brake light fuses blow, there is a short in the brake light circuit that should be diagnosed by a professional.

This could be anywhere from the fuse box to the brake light switch, wiring to the brake lights, or even the brake/tail light housing itself. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with LED brake lights, either all three or just the center brake light, and it doesn't work, the LED circuit itself may be defective, requiring replacement of that LED lighting unit.

If changing the brake light bulbs doesn't solve your problems, see a professional mechanic like AvtoTachki to replace the brake light bulb or find out why your brake lights aren't working.

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