Brake lights stopped working?

Tiny
TOANKIM2006
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
Husband tried installing led lights and now the stop/brake lights and signal lights don't work. Checked fuses and they're good. What could it be?
Thursday, July 17th, 2014 AT 1:58 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
What do the signals do? I suspect the flasher either flashes very fast or not at all. The first condition is caused by the led lights not drawing enough current. That tells the electronic flasher assembly a bulb is burned out, and that makes it flash very fast. You need to add a resistor or the original bulb someplace in the circuit to draw extra current. this guide can help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/brake-lights-not-working

For all led lights there is a polarity to them unlike incandescent bulbs. You may need to turn a bulb around in the socket when possible, otherwise some sockets may need to be rewired.
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Thursday, July 17th, 2014 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
TRUCKMAN6
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
My brake lights will not come on. All other lights work.
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Monday, December 28th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
Looks like fuse "22" runs the brake lights, it is a "15 amp" fuse. Located in the fuse block on the left side of the dash.

The actual switch is near or at the top of the brake pedal, it looks like picture 1 (if I got it right!)

If the plunger is out, the brake lights should be on. Releasing the pedal should push the plunger in and the lights be off.

The plunger could be stuck in and not pop out as it should.

Maybe power is not reaching the switch from the fuse, verify this by taking loose and testing the connector for 12 volts. This may aid you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

The switch itself may be bad.

In that case, you might unplug the switch and temporarily touch a paper clip to the two terminals inside of the harness side of the the connector (your paperclip is now the switch). Do the brake lights come on?

My switch on my Jeep has a plastic body, once the plastic threads stripped out and let the switch slide, this made my brake lights stay on. The stop nut on yours may have come loose, maybe something may have moved. Picture of my Jeep is "picture 2"

Other than that, all I see on the 3.3 liter is the brown/red wire to the lights from the pedal switch to the right taillight assembly. Prior to that, one splits over to the left side tail lights, another splits to the high mounted stop light. All are the same brown/red colors. This may help too:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Keep us posted.

The Medic
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Monday, December 28th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 140,000 MILES
Both brake lights are not working. The third one works. I have replaced the bulbs and checked the fuse. What could be the problem?
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Monday, December 28th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
If the high mount is working, it is not a fault with the fuses. There is a break in continuity between the wires from the brake switch ( which branches out from the high mount) or the bulb sockets have a problem. A testlight or DVOM would help in diagnosing the problem.
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Monday, December 28th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAURICEREESE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1989 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 165,000 MILES
When I turn on the headlights, but the brake lights come on when I push the the brake pedal. But the brake lights don't work I let off the brake pedal.
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Monday, December 28th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
The second half of your description doesn't make sense. The brake lights are supposed to work when you push the brake pedal and they're supposed to turn off when you release it. I suspect if you look closely, you'll see the brake lights are not as bright as they're supposed to be. That, and not working when the tail lights are on are the classic symptoms of a broken ground wire. If there's a trailer harness, start by looking where the wires are spliced in. If someone used Scotch-Lock connectors, those don't seal out moisture. Corrosion will cause a break in the wires.
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Monday, December 28th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)

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