Hi all,

The brake light on my Mom's 2007 fit (no longer leaky, fixed by dealer) died last week and when she steps on the brake now only the 3rd brake light would come on. Any suggestions?

Everything is OEM , the rest of the lights in the housing all work. Only the triangle red lights that normally would come on when you step on the brake pedal is now dead.

I checked both bulbs and they seemed fine. Tested with new bulbs, still not working.

Guessing it's a fuse?

Thanks!

 

I'm not familiar yet with the specific ins and outs of the GD or GE wiring but fuses are usually a good place to start!

It used to be leaky? I would check the bulb contacts too, they could be corroded. try cleaning them with alcohol, or if its really bad some sort of abrasive cleaner or fine grit sandpaper. (the idea is to polish the contact, dont grind it down!)

then bust out the multimeter and start testing connections?

 

Didn't get time to look at the car over the weekend, but will get to it tonight.

Oh second thought, if the third brake light is working, that it should mean the brake light fuse is OK, but the problem is somewhere down the line?

 

There could be different fuses for them.

 

Could be the switch? #5 in pic

 

not sure how that could be, since he states the third brake light works. I would've thought that a bad switch would prevent even the third light from working.

 

yeah i'd say the switch is the only thing we can really rule out. unless anyone has the circuit diagram handy to confirm/deny multiple fuses, OP is going to have to check the car out to know anything for sure

 

Checked the socket with voltmeter - there is power.

So...
- fuse is ok
- bulbs are ok
- brake light switch is ok (3rd brake light comes on on problem)

The left and right bulbs will even light up (at low intensity) when I turn on the night time driving lights.

But bulbs won't light up when brake pedal is depressed. (but 3rd brake light works)

I checked the fuse diagram and didn't see anything else resembling a "brake light fuse"...

hmmmm

 

Normally on most cars the third brake light receives power straight from the stop lamp switch. If the brake lights both show power at the circuit then you might need to see if both share a common ground. Could be corroded from the leaks?

 

Thanks everyone.

I fudged it up. it was the bulbs. Both burned out on the same day. $4.50 later and it's good as new.

 

So why in first post you said new bulbs did not work? What happened then?

 

cos I was a genius and I thought the top bulbs in the triangle housing were the brake lights.

 

It is a bitch being a genius eh? At least you came back here and admitted it. Few would have.

 

Glad you got it fixed. I have done the same thing, rule of thumb is to never rule the bulbs out.

 

i had a similar problem thanks guys

 

Third brake light working, other 2 dead. Tested left and right bulbs (4) all working when plugged in third (upper) brake light on hatch. Should I go buy a new switch?