Taillights went out...

[Killerrobotjews]

So i was driving today, and another motorist let me know my tail lights were out, ALL of them. What could cause this, and what can i do to try and fix it?

 

[vristang]

Was it all taillights or just the brake lights?

If the brake lights it will probably be the sensor switch on the brake pedal. These can be pretty easy to knock loose.

If the tail lights, I don't know but would probably start with chasing the grounds.

 

[That50]

Fuse, bulb?

 

[Killerrobotjews]

Im pretty sure its just the break lights, wheres the sensor at?

and what fuse would it be

 

[vristang]

The brake switch is on the brake pedal. It is up pretty high so some contorting will be necessary on your part. Mine had just unplugged.

I don't know what fuse it is but it should say on the fues panel cover?

 

[Killerrobotjews]

my fuse panel doesnt have a cover

Anyway, i checked the switch and nothing really looks wrong or anything.

Also, My reverse lights come on, just not the brake lights.

What else can i try?

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

 

[Killerrobotjews]

:/

 

[poneypower89]

Im giving a vote for bad ground! Bad grounds can cause lots of bad electrical problems. If all your fuses are ok, take apart the covers in the hatch/trunk and look at your grounds. Also, check to make sure the actual socket to the bulbs are connecting and grounding right. In my old 94 firebird the headlights started going out even with a new bulb. Found out it was a bad ground in the actual socket. I fix it by putting the end of a wire in the socket, screwing the bulb in the socket while basically squishing the end of the wire in there with it, and then I ran the other free end of the wire under a bolt to ground it. And that fixed it. So look for grounds, looks for bad socket grounds, and check ur fuses once more.

 

[squeeeg]

I'm voting either fuse or ground. If that isn't it then you have a wiring problem and that is bad.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I'd check the fuze and ground, but i'll give ya 10-1 odds that it's the headlight switch assymbly. I'm not real sure about '87+ cars, and since you didnt say what year, if it's an '86 or earlier car, they're notorious for this. I had to replace mine, which was doing exactly what you're talking about, and the same exact day i replaced mine, my buddy's '86 did the exact same thing.

 

[HISSIN50]

if we are talking brake lights, i agree with the brake light switch on the brake pedal arm. grab a DMM or test light and make sure you have power into the switch at all times and then when the pedal is pressed, make sure you have power out. this will tell you which way you need to trace wires.

good luck.

 

[92Patrol5.0]

I will go with the brake light switch on the brake pedal. I had the same situation happen to me... another motorist told me my brake lights were not working. Swapped out the switch and that was the problem. You can't really tell just by looking at the switch if it's bad. I would replace that first... it's a cheap part. If that doesn't fix it, then start worrying about grounds and fuses and the rest of that stuff. I would check the obvious first and swap out that switch.

 

[wht93gtEd]

I will go with the brake light switch on the brake pedal. I had the same situation happen to me... another motorist told me my brake lights were not working. Swapped out the switch and that was the problem. You can't really tell just by looking at the switch if it's bad. I would replace that first... it's a cheap part. If that doesn't fix it, then start worrying about grounds and fuses and the rest of that stuff. I would check the obvious first and swap out that switch.

yeah, i don't think that there's any way to really tell just by looking at it. I thought mine went bad once, so I went and bought a new one, and while I was changing it I realized that the factory plug had gone bad; the wires had pulled out. You can just cut the plug off & use 2 female spade connectors to attach the wires to the brake light switch. Just change the switch, it's a cheap & easy place to start checking for problems