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No brake light!!! HELP

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Old Feb 17, 2020 | 09:01 PM
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z33killa
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Default No brake light!!! HELP

So recently my running tail lights and license plate lights have been burning fuses. Every week or so it would blow and i would swap it with a new one, while also searching to find the problem i could not. i checked for shorts in the headlight area and tail light area but can not find anything. As of yesterday every time i put in a new fuse for the running parking break, it fails when i flip the headlight switch. Driving home tonight i realized that now my brake lights do not light up when i hit the break either does my third break light. So now i have no running lights and no break lights. i am beyond confused and need some help.
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Old Feb 17, 2020 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by z33killa
So recently my running tail lights and license plate lights have been burning fuses. Every week or so it would blow and i would swap it with a new one, while also searching to find the problem i could not. i checked for shorts in the headlight area and tail light area but can not find anything. As of yesterday every time i put in a new fuse for the running parking break, it fails when i flip the headlight switch. Driving home tonight i realized that now my brake lights do not light up when i hit the break either does my third break light. So now i have no running lights and no break lights. i am beyond confused and need some help.
Sounds like you have a short somewhere. May want to check your headlight switch as well to ensure it is operating properly and not shorting out somehow. Otherwise, you will just have to begin tracing the path until you can determine where the problem lies.
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Old Feb 18, 2020 | 02:14 AM
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Before you start tearing things apart, look at the lt.pdf section of the Service Manual to determine how the lights in question are actually wired.
And while your spell checker won't catch it, it's brake, not break.
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Old Feb 18, 2020 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by z33killa
So recently my running tail lights and license plate lights have been burning fuses. Every week or so it would blow and i would swap it with a new one, while also searching to find the problem i could not. i checked for shorts in the headlight area and tail light area but can not find anything. As of yesterday every time i put in a new fuse for the running parking break, it fails when i flip the headlight switch. Driving home tonight i realized that now my brake lights do not light up when i hit the break either does my third break light. So now i have no running lights and no break lights. i am beyond confused and need some help.
My crystal ball shows 2 possibilities -
The tail lights have been changed out for aftermarket replacements or other wiring anomalies. They are super easy to remove, take them out and check the wires for tampering. One thing to try- put a good fuse in and turn on your hazard flasher before touching the brake pedal, see if everything lights up correctly.
Your brake pedal switch has failed (which would explain no brake lights but not blown fuses). Your e-brake is completely mechanical levers and cables with a simple dash light. I'd inspect the headlights and park light wires if the ebrake fuse is popping.

Goes without saying driving a small car in the dark without proper lights is a bad idea, plus if someone rear ends you, you will get the ticket in addition to the repair bill.
gl!
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Old Feb 19, 2020 | 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by jhc
My crystal ball shows 2 possibilities -
The tail lights have been changed out for aftermarket replacements or other wiring anomalies. They are super easy to remove, take them out and check the wires for tampering. One thing to try- put a good fuse in and turn on your hazard flasher before touching the brake pedal, see if everything lights up correctly.
Your brake pedal switch has failed (which would explain no brake lights but not blown fuses). Your e-brake is completely mechanical levers and cables with a simple dash light. I'd inspect the headlights and park light wires if the ebrake fuse is popping.

Goes without saying driving a small car in the dark without proper lights is a bad idea, plus if someone rear ends you, you will get the ticket in addition to the repair bill.
gl!

Was looking for a short and could not find one anywhere. But i did find this, a plug going into my headlights and it looks like my tire has chewed off one of the wires.... zip tied it up and out of the way. Could this be why my rear running lights and brake lights are not working??? Btw what is this called?
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Old Feb 19, 2020 | 05:53 PM
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Also turned on my hazards and nothing so it is not the brake pedal nor any aftermarket wires. I do tho have blinking brake lights but they are only a couple months new.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 05:56 AM
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Originally Posted by z33killa

Was looking for a short and could not find one anywhere. But i did find this, a plug going into my headlights and it looks like my tire has chewed off one of the wires.... zip tied it up and out of the way. Could this be why my rear running lights and brake lights are not working??? Btw what is this called?
Originally Posted by z33killa
Also turned on my hazards and nothing so it is not the brake pedal nor any aftermarket wires. I do tho have blinking brake lights but they are only a couple months new.
Well that's progress! Finding a damaged wiring harness/junction could easily be your solution. The easiest way to get around this is to buy enough "butt connectors" of correct size. They look like a little tube, get the ones with vinyl insulation. Cut 1 wire at a time on either side of plastic box, same color. Trim 1/4" of insulation off both ends, insert into connector and crimp that end hard with crimper or pliers. Repeat until done. Should cost less than $5.
If the wires are different colors on either side of the big connector, go by their position on the connector to rejoin. Gl!
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 06:14 AM
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so OP... are you saying you dont have fender liners?
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by travlee
so OP... are you saying you dont have fender liners?
probably the case. I drove without liners before and just recently realized the same junction on my headlights was rubbed out like stripper night with no lube. Still works though!
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