Brake Light Not Working But Tail Light Works (How To Fix)
Brake lights are a crucial safety feature that enhances your safety on the road. However, sometimes these lights may start to malfunction and leave the tail light on. If you’re currently experiencing this issue, you may be looking for answers on why this happens and how to deal with it.
Brake light not working but tail light works is a common problem that has many potential causes behind it. These include a bad brake light bulb, defective bulb socket, blown fuse, wiring problems, a bad ground connection, or faulty brake light switch.
This article will walk you through in-depth details regarding this light problem. You’ll discover how various factors contribute to this issue. Plus, we’ll share a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to help you fix this problem so that your brake light can resume working flawlessly again.
Why Is Your Brake Light Not Working But The Tail Light Works?
If your brake light is out but the tail light is working fine, there are several potential culprits to consider as discussed below:
Burned out bulb
The most common cause for a malfunctioning brake light is a blown bulb. You should inspect if your malfunctioning brake light bulb is burned out and replace it if necessary.
A bad bulb usually has a blackened appearance or the filament inside is broken.
Some vehicle models have brake lights and rear lights sharing the same bulb (dual filament bulb). One filament works for the tail lights while the other illuminates when you press the brake pedal.
If one of the filaments burns, say the brake one, the one for tail lights will continue working while the brake light stays out.
Also, the socket that holds the bulb could be defective or corroded. This can prevent proper contact with the bulb, making the light stop working.
Blown fuse
Another likely reason your brake light isn’t working is a blown fuse. You should therefore inspect the brake light fuse in the fuse box.
Once you get to the fuse box, identify the brake light fuse and inspect if it’s blown. If blown, you should replace it with a new one that has the same amperage.
However, keep in mind that a fuse blowing could be a sign of an underlying issue such as a short circuit.
For this reason, we advise you to monitor the fuse after replacement to see if it blows again soon.
Wiring issues
Wiring problems related to the brake light circuit can also affect the brake light functionality. The wiring could be damaged, frayed, cut, broken, or even loose.
A broken wire, in particular, may cause intermittent behavior of the brake light.
Inspecting the wire for damage and ensuring that all the connections are secure can help rule out wiring issues as the culprit.
However, a visual wiring inspection may not always identify the problem. Thus, doing a continuity test or voltage drop test is always recommended.
Bad ground connection
If your tail lights are working but brake lights are not, another thing to check is the ground connection. Check the ground connection for the brake light for damage or corrosion.
Just like any other electrical circuit, your brake light circuit needs to be complete for uninterrupted current flow.
The ground helps offer a return path for current, thus completing the circuit.
If the ground connection point or wire gets corroded, loose, or broken, the flow of current will be disrupted through the brake light circuit. Consequently, the brake light may fail to illuminate.
Faulty brake light switch
Sometimes the brake light switch could be behind the brake light not working while the tail lights remain functional.
The brake light switch is a small component located near the brake pedal assembly. Its job is to activate the brake lights whenever you apply the brakes.
If this switch becomes faulty or misaligned, it is unable to send a signal to the brake light, making them stop working.
Testing the switch functionality is as easy as pressing the brake pedal and observing if the brake lights come on.
If the lights do not respond, then the switch is probably faulty or misaligned and needs to be adjusted or even replaced.
How To Fix The Brake Light Not Working But The Tail Light Works
Fixing the issue of the brake light not working but the tail light works becomes easy when you know the likely culprits causing the problem.
Here’s a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to help you diagnose and fix this issue:
Step 1. Check the bulbs: The first step is to examine the brake light bulb. Get the bulb out of its housing and check if it has darkened or if the filament inside is broken. In this case, you’ll need to replace it with a new one and ensure you install it correctly.
If the bulb is good, inspect its socket for signs of corrosion or damage to the contacts that could be causing the bulb not to work.
Step 2. Check the brake light fuse: Next, locate the brake light fuse in the fuse box for inspection. If the wire inside the fuse is broken, replace the fuse with a new one having the same amperage rating.
Step 3. Examine the wiring: Now examine the wiring running to the brake lights, damage or loose wires. Look out for signs of corrosion, frayed insulation, loose connections, wear, etc. Repair or replace any affected wiring as necessary.
Step 4. Assess the ground connection: Examine the electrical ground wiring for the brake light circuit and inspect it for damages, corrosion, or loose connection. Fix it accordingly so that it is securely connected and clean to promote a complete circuit.
Step 5. Inspect the brake light switch: Locate the brake light switch near the brake pedal. Have someone press the pedal while you pay attention to a clicking noise from the switch. If you don’t get this noise, you most likely have a defective switch. Brake light switch replacement is an easy and cheap fix that you can fix on your own.
Can You Fix The Brake Light Not Working Issue On Your Own?
You can repair your malfunctioning brake light on your own and save time and money spent by taking your car to the mechanic or dealership.
However, whether you can repair this problem depends on the complexity of the underlying issue.
Some issues like a faulty brake light bulb are pretty easy DIY fixes. You just get the correct bulb to replace the old one. The brake light fuse and switch are also easy to replace on your own.
However, you may feel that you’re not up to the task of troubleshooting your car on your own.
In this case, you should not hesitate to seek assistance from your mechanic or auto shop. This will ensure your car is diagnosed properly without creating more problems.
Also, if you follow our troubleshooting above but the problem doesn’t go away, be sure to seek further assistance from a qualified auto mechanic.
Your vehicle might be having complex issues that require specialized tools used by professionals to diagnose/fix.
Can You Drive Your Car With The Brake Light Not Working But The Tail Light Working?
We don’t recommend driving your car with malfunctioning brake lights as it puts your safety at risk.
Without functional brake lights, the drivers behind you won’t be able to tell when you’re slowing down or stopping. And this increases the risk of getting rear-ended.
The working tail lights may help improve your car visibility but they don’t convey your intentions to stop or show urgency as the brake light does.
Moreover, driving with malfunctioning brake lights is usually a traffic offense in most states.
You’ll get pulled over by patrol police and issued a citation or penalty, depending on which state you live in.
Therefore, if you notice your brake light malfunctioning, you should have it fixed before you get back on the road again.
Why Are My Tail Lights Not Working But The Brake Lights Are Working?
Sometimes, the exact opposite may happen—where your brake lights are working but the tail lights are not. This problem also has a variety of potential causes behind it. These include:
- Bad tail light bulb
- Defective socket
- Blown tail light fuse
- Wiring problems
- Failing turn signal switch
- Malfunctioning ambient light sensor
The above issues will affect the tail light functionality without making your brake lights stop working. This is because your brake lights operate on a separate circuitry line from tail lights.
Just like in the case of brake lights, we advise you to have the tail light issue fixed as soon as possible. You can troubleshoot this problem on your own by checking the bulbs, fuses, and wiring.
However, if the issue persists, you should take your car to a qualified auto mechanic for expert diagnosis and fixing of the underlying problem.
If you’re facing a situation where the brake light is not functioning while the tail light is working correctly, it’s essential to diagnose the root cause and address it promptly. Our article on brake and battery light on causes can provide you with valuable insights into potential reasons for the brake and battery lights being illuminated simultaneously. Additionally, if you’re specifically dealing with a third brake light issue in your Ford Ranger, our article on Ford Ranger third brake light not working offers troubleshooting tips and solutions to resolve the problem. Feel free to explore these resources for more information and assistance in resolving the issues you’re experiencing.FAQs:
No, the tail light and brake light are usually separate in all cars and operate differently.
The tail lights usually illuminate when you power on your vehicle for visibility. Brake lights, on the other hand, illuminate whenever you apply the brake pedal to warn the drivers behind you that you’re slowing down.
However, some cars may feature the same bulb for these two lights. Even then, the lights still operate differently.
The best way to know if your brake light fuse is bad is to remove it and examine it. A bad fuse usually has the metal strip running inside broken or melted. If you want to be sure, you can also test the fuse for continuity with a multimeter.
A bad brake light could be the reason behind your brake lights not working. However, you should look for additional symptoms of a bad brake light switch such as cruise control light and ABS warning lights coming on. Testing the switch as discussed in our troubleshooting guide above can also help determine if the switch is faulty.
Conclusion
It can be quite frustrating when your brake lights decide not to work but the taillight is working as normal. When faced with this issue, you should first find out the cause behind it before you jump into any repairs or parts replacement. The most common causes behind this problem include a bad bulb, blown fuse, faulty brake light switch, or a bad ground connection.
Our troubleshooting guide above will help you easily uncover the exact problem making your brake lights malfunction. You can then go ahead and fix the problem to make your brake lights functional again. Remember, you should never drive your car with bad brake lights. You don’t want to imagine being rear-ended for not fixing that faulty brake light!
