Brake Light Not Working After Changing Bulb (How To Fix)
Discovering that your brake light is still not working after changing the bulb can be quite puzzling. When this happens, you’ll need to find out the issues making the light malfunction. But where do you start? This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve your issue of the brake light not illuminating after bulb replacement.
Brake light not working after changing the bulb can stem from a variety of issues including using the wrong bulb, an incorrectly installed bulb, a faulty new bulb, a defective socket, bad wiring, or a bad ground connection.
This article further explores the various aspects that could make your brake light not come on even after replacing the bulb. We’ll also share expert tips on how to troubleshoot and fix this issue to restore your brake light.
Why Your Brake Light Is Not Working After Changing The Bulb?
The brake light failing to illuminate after changing the bulb means there’s still an underlying problem that needs to be resolved.
Below, we discuss all the potential causes that could be making your stop light fail to come on:
Using the wrong type of bulb
One of the things to consider when faced with this lighting issue is whether you got the right type of replacement bulb for your brake light.
As you already know, each car usually has a specific type of bulb (with size and wattage specifications). Using the wrong replacement bulb, therefore, won’t work. And it may even cause further problems such as a blown fuse.
Consult your owner’s manual for more info on the right type of bulb to use. You can also compare the new bulb with the old bulb or the working bulb to see if they match.
Incorrectly installed bulb
Another possible explanation for the failing brake light after the bulb change is that the globe was incorrectly installed.
If the bulb isn’t properly installed—i.e., it is loose or misaligned—it will make improper electrical contact with its socket connectors, causing it to malfunction.
Check if your bulb is correctly seated in its socket and is correctly locked in its housing (depending on the design).
Faulty bulb
You shouldn’t also overlook the fact that your new bulb could be defective. Consider testing another working bulb to see if it works and rule out the possibility of a bad bulb.
Defective bulb socket
Another key culprit that causes the brake light not to illuminate after bulb replacement is having a defective socket.
Most of the time, the socket could be corroded or damaged, preventing the bulb from accessing the electrical power it needs to illuminate.
Ensure the contacts inside the socket are free of corrosion and properly aligned. And that there is power reaching the socket.
Bad wiring
Yet another possibility behind the failing brake light issue is faults in the wiring leading to the bad brake light socket. These wires could be damaged, corroded, or loose and thus stop the light from working.
Inspect the wiring harness plus the connectors for signs of damage, fraying, loose connections, corrosion, etc. In case of any issues, perform the necessary repairs and replacements to ensure uninterrupted electrical current flow.
Bad ground connection
A bad ground connection in the brake light circuit results in an incomplete circuit. This means it will cause a disruption in electric current flow to the new bulb, causing it to malfunction.
Inspect the ground for your brake light circuit for loose connection or corrosion and fix it as necessary.
Ensure the ground connection is clean and securely attached to your vehicle chassis. If need be, change the contact point to ensure you have a properly working ground contact.
NOTE: There are other key culprits associated with bad brake lights. These include a blown brake light fuse and a bad brake light switch.
However, these components are related to your entire brake light circuit.
This means they’ll affect all the other brake light bulbs as well. You should only consider them if all your brake lights are malfunctioning.
How To Fix Your Brake Light Not Working After Changing The Bulb
Here are our step-by-step troubleshooting instructions to help you fix this brake light problem in your car:
Step 1. Verify you have the correct bulb: Check that the new bulb is compatible with your car’s specifications. It should have the correct wattage, size, and other specifications of your old bulb. You can consult your owner’s manual for more info regarding the correct bulb specifications. If the bulb is correct, move on to the next step.
Step 2. Reinstall the bulb: Now you’ll need to check if you incorrectly installed the bulb. Remove it and reinsert it correctly, making sure it makes proper contact with the contact inside the socket. Ensure the bulb isn’t loose; try to gently wiggle it to ensure it’s securely locked in place. If it still doesn’t work, take it out and head to the next step.
Step 3. Inspect the bulb: The bulb you bought could be faulty, so you should closely inspect it for signs of defects or damage. To rule out this possibility, consider testing the bulb in a known working circuit to confirm if it’s working. Alternatively, you can swap it with a known working bulb in its socket. If the bulb is faulty, replace it with a new one.
Step 4. Check the socket: If you have confirmed that the bulb is good, then the problem could be lying in the socket it sits in. Inspect if the inside of the socket looks burned (melted plastic) or corroded and clean it. You may also want to check if there’s power present in the connectors.
Additionally, check if the prongs inside are damaged or misaligned as they could be preventing the bulb from making proper contact. If they look bent, you can try pulling them out a bit and then reinstalling your bulb to see if it works. If the socket is damaged beyond repair, you’ll need to replace it.
Step 5. Examine the wiring: If the socket is working, trace the wiring harness and connectors running related to the malfunctioning brake light. Look out for key signs like damage, breaks, fraying, loose connections, corrosion, etc. All these issues can interrupt the brake light circuit and should therefore be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Step 6. Check the ground connection: If the rest of the wiring looks good, check the ground connection for the light. Ensure it’s securely connected and clean/corrosion-free. If necessary, disconnect it, clean it, and then reconnect it.
Alternatively, you can change the connection point. You can also test for ground at the bulb; no ground means you have a poor ground connection or issues with the wiring on the ground part of the circuit.
Step 7. Test the brake light: Once you have completed the steps above, you should turn on your car and press the brake pedal to see if the brake light illuminates. If the light comes on, then the issue has been resolved.
If you follow the troubleshooting process above and the problem persists, consider consulting your mechanic or dealership for a more thorough diagnosis of your car.
Sometimes, electric-related diagnoses of your vehicle can be challenging. So, if you don’t feel confident doing it by yourself, let your mechanic do it for you.
Can You Drive With The Brake Light Not Working After Changing The Bulb?
No, it’s not recommended to drive your car if the brake light fails to illuminate after a bulb change.
The brake light is an important safety feature in your car that helps alter other drivers when you’re slowing down or coming to a stop. This way, the driver can react accordingly and prevent cases of collisions or accidents.
Driving with a brake light not working means the drivers behind you will be in the dark regarding your braking maneuvers.
That said, if your brake light doesn’t illuminate after a bulb change, it indicates an underlying issue. We advise you to diagnose your car and resolve this issue so that your light can resume working as before.
Your brake lights working flawlessly ensure you drive safely on the road. Moreover, you won’t be stopped by cops for having a malfunctioning brake light.
Why Is One Brake Light In Your Car Not Working But The Bulb Is Good?
You may also find yourself in a situation where one of your brake lights doesn’t work after changing the bulb.
In this case, you should first check that the bulb you changed has the correct specification for your car. You should also check the bulb is not defective and is correctly installed in its socket.
If the bulb is okay, you should look for other potential culprits behind this issue such as a defective socket, bad wiring, or poor ground connection.
However, you should rule out a blown fuse or bad brake light switch as the potential causes since these usually affect all the brake lights, not just one of them.
Why The Passenger-Side Brake Light Won’t Work After Replacing The Bulb?
If your passenger side brake light fails to illuminate after replacing the bulb, a few potential causes could be behind this issue. These include:
- Incorrect bulb installation
- Using the wrong replacement bulb
- The new bulb is defective
- Defective bulb socket
- Faults in the wiring harness and connector
- Poor ground connection
When this light problem shows up, we advise you to inspect your car while paying close attention to the above aspects. This will help you identify the underlying cause of your problem and do the necessary fixes to resolve the issue.
After addressing a bulb replacement and still finding the brake light not operational, it might point to other underlying issues with the light system. It’s not uncommon for drivers to encounter issues where the brake light isn’t working on one side, and understanding the causes can help in quicker diagnosis and resolution. Additionally, while on the subject of vehicle issues, another common problem many Subaru Forester owners face is related to the ignition system. If you’ve ever been perplexed by your Subaru Forester not starting, our guide dives deep into the potential causes and solutions.FAQs:
Potential causes behind your brake light not working after replacing the bulbs include incorrect installation, wrong bulb, faulty wiring, bad socket, blown fuse, or malfunctioning brake light switch.
You can tell if your brake light switch is bad by visually inspecting it for signs of damage such as a burnt appearance or broken/melted filament inside. Alternatively, you can use a multimeter to test the fuse terminals for continuity.
Yes, you can easily fix most of the brake light issues on your own. These include bulb and fuse replacement. However, some more complex issues might be challenging to fix on your own and require the attention of a qualified auto mechanic.
Conclusion
Replacing the bulb doesn’t always guarantee that your brake light will start working again. There could be other underlying issues that can cause the light to malfunction. These include using the wrong replacement bulb, incorrectly installing the bulb, or a defective new bulb, defective socket, bad ground connection, and wiring problems.
We advise you to troubleshoot your car to find out the underlying issue and resolve it to restore your brake lights. Our troubleshooting guide above will guide you through the entire diagnosis process. If you’re unable to diagnose your car on your own, have a qualified mechanic do it for you.