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11-03-2013, 05:14 PM
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#1 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond
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| Brake light on one side stays lit at night
I have sought after different solutions myself, but dealing with electrical problems is the bane of my existence 
Recently, I discovered that when I turn on my lights in the evening, my brake light (which also serve as the nighttime running lights for the rear) on one side is half-lit (which is normal), and the other side stays fully lit, as if I was stepping on the brakes. It doesn't stay lit when the lights are off during the daytime.
I replaced the bulbs, checked the fuses and relays, and checked the condition of the wires near the connection, but everything seems fine. Could it be a short, or an open circuit somewhere? Maybe the brake switch? It's bugging me to no end, and input is appreciated 
Some pictures in case my explanation sucks  
Last edited by AW607; 11-03-2013 at 05:52 PM.
Reason: Present tense
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11-03-2013, 05:39 PM
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#2 | | Banned By Establishment
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC
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You contemplated changing the bulbs......but didnt? Why not try the cheapest and easiest first.....change the damn bulb.
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11-03-2013, 05:51 PM
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#3 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceman-19  You contemplated changing the bulbs......but didnt? Why not try the cheapest and easiest first.....change the damn bulb. | I changed it first, sorry I forgot to make that clear
Last edited by AW607; 11-03-2013 at 05:56 PM.
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11-03-2013, 06:31 PM
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#4 | | Head Moderator
Join Date: Dec 1982 Location: Great White Nor
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Likely isn't the case, but do you have fog lights on your car? Many cars have a single rear brake light set up to come on when your fog lights are running. It's mostly a Euro only thing but sometimes you'll find it on an NA car.
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11-03-2013, 06:54 PM
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#5 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond
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nah my car doesn't have fog lights either...
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11-03-2013, 06:58 PM
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#6 | | Banned By Establishment
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC
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Check your other bulbs in the tail light, they may be on the same circuit. One grounds out and it opens the brake light circuit.
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11-03-2013, 08:13 PM
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#7 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Langley BC
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you put the blub in properly?
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11-03-2013, 09:30 PM
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#8 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond
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It was doing it before I put in the new bulb, and it was still doing it after I put in the new bulb.. there's only one way to put the bulb in as far as I'm concerned 
I'll check to see if there's a ground anywhere tomorrow
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11-03-2013, 09:51 PM
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#9 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Langley BC
Posts: 865
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oh, some bulbs have a separate prongs for the brake and the running portion of the light. when installed wrong the brake light portion now acts as the running light.... think i had that happen on my xj or the s12....
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11-03-2013, 09:54 PM
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#10 | | Head of HR....have a seat on that couch
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Coquitlam
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Did you take a close look at the socket, when you had the bulb out?
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11-03-2013, 10:01 PM
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#11 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond
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I didn't think twice about the socket, I just promptly replaced the bulb. The socket's like a push and twist kind of an install, but I'll keep that in mind when I take a look at it tomorrow. Quote:
Originally Posted by Prolowtone oh, some bulbs have a separate prongs for the brake and the running portion of the light. when installed wrong the brake light portion now acts as the running light.... think i had that happen on my xj or the s12.... | Interesting, I've never heard of that before. The thing is, this just started to happen recently and now I'm starting to think it may have grounded out someplace.
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11-03-2013, 10:59 PM
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#12 | | RS controls my life!
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: lower mainland
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Looks like a double filament bulb has broken and has crossed the 2 filaments together causing a short. If the bulbs are ok, then as mentioned above, a socket issue. Maybe corrosion in the socket, causing the brake and tail light circuits to short. I doubt its a ground issue. The tail/brake lights have constant ground.
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11-04-2013, 03:45 PM
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#13 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Richmond
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Yeah alright, I checked out the socket and turns out there was a slight bit of wear and corrosion going on inside. I cleaned it up, reinstalled the bulb and I got a normal taillight again. Thanks for the help  | |
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11-04-2013, 07:50 PM
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#14 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Langley BC
Posts: 865
Thanked 336 Times in 109 Posts
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good to hear it was a simple fix
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