Why does my tail light not work but my brake light does?

Why does my tail light not work but my brake light does?

Here is a more detailed list of the most common causes when taillights do not work, but brake lights do. Brake lights typically use a dual filament bulb, and it’s possible for just one of those filaments to break. When that happens, you’ll get function out of one side of the bulb, like the brake light, but not the taillight.

How can you tell if a tail light bulb is still working?

Unscrew the bulbs in question and check them the way you would any household bulb: by looking at the filament wire inside them to determine if it is still intact. The bulb can be checked by tapping it against your hand to see if the filament is moving or vibrating.

When to take your tail light to the mechanic?

If the fuse, taillight wires, and bulb are all in good shape, it’s time to take the car to the mechanic. When you remove a bulb for replacement, you should inspect the socket for burnt contacts and the tail lamp for burnt contacts or melted socket boards. Check the taillight lenses.

Can a car with a broken tail light be seen?

And together with the brake light, the tail light is lit as well. It’s important that the lighting system is fully-functional all the time as the driver from behind won’t be able to tell if you’re moving or not. At night and during rain, fog, or snow, a car with a broken tail light may be difficult to see on the road.

Why would the tail lights not work?

Sometimes, pressing the brakes turns off the tail lights too and they don’t start working again until you let the brakes off. The possible reasons for brake lights not working but tail lights are: Blown out light bulbs are the most common reason for why the brake lights not working but the tail lights are.

Why are both my tail lights not working?

Possibly the most common reasons why tail lights are not working is because of the burned bulb. As we all know, every car’s light is manufactured and made out of the light bulbs. These lights are very similar to the house light bulbs and they also can burn or malfunction. Nov 17 2019

How do you replace tail light bulb?

Step 1: Open the lift gate. Step 2: Remove the two 10mm bolts. Step 3: Pop the tail light free from the pins on the side. Step 4: Disconnect the tail light electrical connector. Step 5: Remove the light bulb fixture assembly. Step 6: Replace the bulbs. Step 7: Reinstall the bulb assembly into the tail light.

Why do your brake lights work but not your tail lights?

The possible reasons for brake lights not working but tail lights are: Blown out light bulbs are the most common reason for why the brake lights not working but the tail lights are. Remove the screws from the bulb lens (which you can access through the trunk or see your vehicle repair manual to get the exact location).

Why are the tail lights on my caravan not working?

There is often an empty pin (pin 2) which is mostly unused. The trailer plug on a caravan or trailer whether it is round or flat is almost always left out in the weather. Water on the plug will lead to corrosion on the pins which can affect the connection and cause flickering tail lights or the lights to stop working.

When do your tail lights need to be on?

They are necessary when driving at night, twilight hours, or in bad weather like rain and snow. The purpose of your tail lights are to illuminate the rear of your car. Generally, they turn on when you flip the switch that also turns on your headlights.

Is it dangerous to drive with broken tail lights?

So, driving with broken tail lights is very dangerous. Actually, people find out about their tail light problem when the police officer pulls them over. This is because the tail light malfunction is not that easy to spot. Usually, brake lights are the problem and the tail lights work just fine. But, sometimes it’s the opposite.

What to do if your tail lights are not working?

Take note that different states and countries have different rules when it comes to driving without tail lights or brake lights. Fines also vary, so you must check your lights before you drive. If your car tail lights are not working, fix this right away. If you cannot troubleshoot, ask a local garage repair center to help you out.

How does the brake and tail lights work?

The brake and tail lights system in many cars is a simple wiring system. When the driver hits the brake, he slows down or stops the vehicle and, at the same time, activates a switch that lights up the brake light. And together with the brake light, the tail light is lit as well.

So, driving with broken tail lights is very dangerous. Actually, people find out about their tail light problem when the police officer pulls them over. This is because the tail light malfunction is not that easy to spot. Usually, brake lights are the problem and the tail lights work just fine. But, sometimes it’s the opposite.

What happens when your brake lights are not working?

While the brake light switch is connected to the brake pedal which comes on when the pedal is pressed. When the tail lights fail or do not function properly the car becomes a danger or hazard to self and others on the road. You may receive a ticket or citation from the traffic police. The Causes Why Tail Lights Not Working

How can I tell if my tail lights have a fuse?

When you have located the fuse for the tail lights use a fuse tester to check the connection. If the tester lights up – your fuse is functioning fine. If it does not light up then, replace the fuse with another of the similar amperage and size. In many instances, you can see the break in the metal strip of the fuse.

Why are the rear lights not working on my car?

As the rear lights are not connected, they do not illuminate. A fuse is a band of metal alloy inside a plastic container It is designed to break in the event of a power surge. When the band melts the circuit breaks and protects the electrical system and the lights from damage. One is situated inside the cabin.

What happens when your tail lights are not working?

When the tail lights fail or do not function properly the car becomes a danger or hazard to self and others on the road. You may receive a ticket or citation from the traffic police. Blow fuse – The first thing the mechanics check is the fuse corresponding to the rear lights.

When you have located the fuse for the tail lights use a fuse tester to check the connection. If the tester lights up – your fuse is functioning fine. If it does not light up then, replace the fuse with another of the similar amperage and size. In many instances, you can see the break in the metal strip of the fuse.

Why are the brake and gauge lights not working?

Hello!, last week i started the Pro to check for problems before selling it and noticed that the gauge “cluster” and tail light was not working. The tail light is also black and the brake light does not work either. Headlights (hi,lo), reverse work without problems.

When do the tail lights and brake lights come on?

The taillights come on when your headlights are on or your parking brake is engaged. The brake lights turn on when you apply pressure on the brakes. In most automobiles, the taillights are red while the brake lights are a brighter, more luminous red. The rear lights are controlled by the same switch as the headlights.

What should I do about my Mercedes tail light?

Most Mercedes tail lights deal with changing the bulbs, persistent faults, lights remaining on and so on. When facing issues with the Mercedes tail lights, owners can have questions.

Why does my brake light not work when I depress the brakes?

New cars often use LED lights for the taillights. But if you have an older car, you want to check the light bulbs. A blown or fused bulb is the most basic reason behind a faulty brake light. If the bulb used in the brake light has gone faulty, it will not work when you depress the brakes.

Where are the brake and tail lights located?

These are separate lights and perform different functions. Knowing the differences between tail light vs brake light is important to understand their functions and roles in automobile safety. Both these lights are located on the rear side of a vehicle. To grasp their differences, it’s important to understand how they work.

Why are the brake lights not working but the tail lights are?

Blown out light bulbs are the most common reason for why the brake lights not working but the tail lights are. Remove the screws from the bulb lens (which you can access through the trunk or see your vehicle repair manual to get the exact location). Push the bulbs and turn them counterclockwise to remove from the socket.

How to replace taillight bulb on Mercedes Benz E320?

Pull the seal off the lens and place it aside. Remove the three T25 Torx screws for the bulb assembly (red arrows). Remove the bulb assembly (green arrow) from the lens and replace it with a new one. The red arrow points to one faulty bulb, the reason this unit was replaced.

Where are the tail lights on a Mercedes Benz W211?

The taillights on Mercedes-Benz W211 sedan models is mounted in the fender. All of the lights (minus the third brake and plate) are mounted in the housing. The taillight lens and bulbs are both serviceable. The bulbs however are only serviced as a complete bulb holder.

Why did my Mercedes Benz taillight bulb burn out?

The red arrow points to one faulty bulb, the reason this unit was replaced. Note the burned plastic (yellow arrow), visible from the trunk on the rear side of the bulb assembly. When installing new taillight lens, check that the taillight seal is in good condition.

What to do if your brake light does not work?

If the turn signal switch is not working properly, your brake light can also not work. Find the wire that connects the brake light and the turn signal switch and replace it. Chances are that this action would solve your problem. If not, then you have no other choice but to visit a mechanic or an electrician.

Why do you need tail lights when driving at night?

Taillights are necessary for nighttime driving. They are in place so other drivers can spot you from behind and so that they can brake at a safe distance from you if you stop. Driving during the night without brake lights or tail lights can thus be extremely dangerous.

What to do if your tail light is not working?

The use of flashlight can help you identify the tail light fuse. After identifying the right fuse, you need to remove and inspect it. When the metal found inside the fuse is intact, the fuse is okay. However, a broken wire indicates that the wick is faulty.

When do you need to replace tail light bulbs?

You need to replace bulbs if they have got darkened or the filaments are blown. Choose the new bulbs of the same type and wattage. In most European cars, the same bulb does the job of the tail and brake lighting. However, it has double filaments, allowing one set still working while the other set is burnt.

Is it dangerous to drive with brake lights not working?

Driving at night with either brake lights or tail lights not working is dangerous for you and other drivers on the road. It takes a long time to notice when the brake lights not working but tail lights are or vice versa. It is so because you won’t know what is happening in the backside while driving until someone points it out.

What to do if your tail lights don’t work?

Also would it be possible to run a wire from the headlight control switch back to the tail lights so they work off the same wire as the headlights? or can this cause damage? There is a 15 amp fuse under the hood labeled small lights, for some reason this controls the rear running/tail lights as well as the lighting for the radio/HVAC area.

When to take a tail light bulb to the mechanic?

If the bulb is fine, your car may have a deeper electrical problem. If the fuse, taillight wires, and bulb are all in good shape, it’s time to take the car to the mechanic. When you remove a bulb for replacement, you should inspect the socket for burnt contacts and the tail lamp for burnt contacts or melted socket boards.

Why are the tail lights on MY Titan not working?

2005 Titan trailer tail lights are not working. I have brakes and turns work fine. Changed the three relays still i have no tail lights. The first thing I would check is the trailer wiring running light fuse located in the power distribution box under the hood.

What should I do if my tail light has blown out?

Use your fingers or a tweezer to take out the fuse. Most new cars have a fuse extractor in the fuse box or in the tool kit. It is a small white plastic tool that resembles a pair of pliers. Bring it to an auto store to find a match, then buy a replacement and insert it in the proper position to replace the blown fuse. Look at the tail lamp wiring.

Here is a more detailed list of the most common causes when taillights do not work, but brake lights do. Brake lights typically use a dual filament bulb, and it’s possible for just one of those filaments to break. When that happens, you’ll get function out of one side of the bulb, like the brake light, but not the taillight.

Unscrew the bulbs in question and check them the way you would any household bulb: by looking at the filament wire inside them to determine if it is still intact. The bulb can be checked by tapping it against your hand to see if the filament is moving or vibrating.

And together with the brake light, the tail light is lit as well. It’s important that the lighting system is fully-functional all the time as the driver from behind won’t be able to tell if you’re moving or not. At night and during rain, fog, or snow, a car with a broken tail light may be difficult to see on the road.

When do you need to replace a tail light fuse?

On most new cars, the fuse would have to be removed to be checked due to the arrangement of the fuses. If the piece of metal inside the taillight fuse is intact, the fuse is still good. If the piece of metal looks broken or fractured, the fuse is blown and will need replacing.