Why are my brake lights working but not my tail lights?
The most common reason why your tail lights are not working but brake lights are is due to a bad or wrong type of light bulb installed. It can also be caused by a blown fuse, bad wirings, or corroded sockets or plugs. A faulty control light switch could also be to blame.
Are brake lights and tail lights the same bulb?
On many vehicles, the tail lights and brake lights share the same bulb. One filament inside the bulb is for the tail light and the other filament is for the brake light. There are also some vehicles that have a separate bulb for each circuit.
What do I do if my brake light is out?
Find an area to pull over safely and turn off your engine. After a few minutes, check your brake fluid, topping it off if it appears low. Restart your vehicle and check to see if the light has turned off. If it has, you may proceed to your destination.
What should I do if my tail light bulb is broken?
If the filament in the bulb is broken or moves, replace it with a new bulb from an auto store. If the bulb is fine, check the fuse box under the hood or dashboard to see if the piece of metal inside the tail light fuse is broken. To replace a broken fuse, use a tweezer to pull out the old fuse and insert a new one.
Where is the fuse box for the tail light switch?
On older cars, the fuse box is located under the dash. On most newer cars it can be located under the hood or the dash. The manual will have a labeled picture of the fuse box showing which fuse is which. Making sure the ignition is off, take the cover off of the fuse box and locate the taillight fuse.
What happens when a tail light bulb is burnt out?
When the filament inside the bulb breaks it cannot illuminate the gas enclosed within the glass cover. This burnt-out bulb does not affect the circuitry of the light system and it continues to function normally. You may have to remove the cover of the tail light.
How do I know if my tail light fuse is blown?
Making sure the ignition is off, take the cover off of the fuse box and locate the taillight fuse. Use a flashlight to inspect the fuse and determine whether it’s blown. On most new cars, the fuse would have to be removed to be checked due to the arrangement of the fuses.
