Brake lights stayed on and drained battery

KAT513

MEMBER
2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
51,000 MILES

I have this car as a second vehicle kept in a garage. When I came out to drive it discovered battery dead. Voltage meter read 0 and also was a three year old battery. Replaced battery with new one from AutoZone. After replacement that is when I noticed the brake lights stayed on after auto turned off and keys removed from ignition. Since the car is driven during daylight hours only I never noticed this before. Any idea as what issue could be? I've disconnected battery cables so it doesn't drain new battery. Thanks to anyone who replies with any ideas before I take it do a shop.

1 Reply

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

This sounds like you have a short to power somewhere in the brake light circuit. It could also be as simple as not engaging the "auto" function on the light switch when the vehicle is parked in the garage. In the diagrams down below I have included the wiring diagrams for your vehicle for the exterior lighting, a diagram of the location of the stop lamp switch, and finally a description and specs. Of how the "auto" lighting on the light switch works. If there is a short to power I would check the stop-lamp switch first, but try moving the lighting switch out of "auto" and see if that works first. Please get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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