Average Cost
The cost of swapping out one or both brake lights can vary widely. You can come across a wide range of prices, from
$20 to $150
. It will depend on your make and model and where you go to have the work done.
Can I fix my own brake light?
Changing a faulty brake light is something anyone can learn to do. A replacement bulb costs about $10, and
replacing it on your own will save about $20 in labor
and the time it takes to travel to the shop and wait for the work to be done.
How much does it cost to fix a brake light fuse?
And finally, if you want to fix the fuse of the affected lights or change it, the average cost will amount from
$50 to $150
.
What can cause brake lights to stop working?
If one or more of your brake lights isn’t working properly, it could mean one of three things:
The brake light system fuse is blown, the brake light bulbs are burned out or the brake light wiring switch is broken
. All of these issues are easy to troubleshoot.
Does Walmart fix brake lights?
Unfortunately, Walmart Auto Care Centers do not service any aspects of a vehicle’s brakes—including brake pads, sensors, brake fluids, taillights, and brake lights.
Walmart does not install brake lights
, they do sell replacement brake light bulbs, so you can purchase a replacement to install yourself.
Is it illegal to drive with a brake light out?
By law, you need to have both brake lights in working order. If your brake light is out, drivers may not be able to tell and it could cause a collision.
It is illegal to drive with a brake light out
. However, if you are pulled over by the police, they may be lenient on you and let you go with a warning.
Why does my brake light work but not my tail light?
Tail lights are usually powered by the running lights circuit, which is always hot (powered) when the key is in the “on” position. The tail light fuse only has power when the headlight switch is turned on. That’s why your brake lights work but your tail lights don’t –
because your headlight switch isn’t turned on
!
How do I know if my brake lights are bad?
As noted above, once per week, take a few minutes during your day or evening to check if all brake lights are working.
If the parking lights work (meaning the rear lights that turn on when the headlights are active), but when pressing the brake light the light does not work
, have the tail lamp bulb replaced.
Why won’t my tail lights turn on?
The most common reason why your tail lights are not working but brake lights are is due to a
bad or wrong type of light bulb installed
. It can also be caused by a blown fuse, bad wirings, or corroded sockets or plugs. A faulty control light switch could also be to blame.
Where is brake light fuse?
Like all fuses, the brake light system fuse can be found
in the power distribution center, which is under the dashboard or tucked away underneath the hood
.
How long does it take to fix a brake light?
Be Prepared
Fortunately, tail light bulb replacement isn’t difficult and shouldn’t take you more than
45 minutes to an hour
to complete.
What fuse controls brake lights?
The
tail light fuse
may be located in either the fuse panel in the front passenger side of your vehicle or in the main fuse box under the hood. Once you’ve opened either the panel or the main fuse box, locate the tail light fuse. If you’re unsure which one it is, use the owner’s manual for guidance.
What makes brake light come on?
The most common reason your brake light might be on is
the parking brake is engaged or broken, low brake fluid, your car needs new brake pads, or your brake light bulbs need to be replaced
. If handled quickly and properly, these should be low cost, no problem fixes.
Is the tail light the same as the brake light?
The main difference between tail lights and brake lights is that the former lights up as soon as the headlights are turned on, while the latter only engages upon stepping on the brake pedal
. While both lights are red, brake lights tend to emit a more luminous red light.
What kind of bulb does a brake light use?
The most common bulb used in automotive tail light and brake light applications is the
1157 bulb
. With running lights on, the low filament emits 3 candlepower and when the brakes are applied or the turn signals are activated, the high filament emits 32 candlepower.
What bulb goes in a brake light?
Sylvania Long Life Clear 921 Incandescent Bulb
.
Why do the police touch the tail light?
Whenever an officer approaches a stopped car, they have to be ready for a potentially dangerous situation. The person they’ve pulled over may have a firearm or dangerous drugs in their car, so
a tap on the tail light can distract them while attempting to hide any contraband
.
Is driving with full beam illegal?
Don’t get caught out. Although
there are no laws directly relating to using full beams
, if you do have them on at the wrong time and dazzle other road users, you could get points on your licence for driving without due care and attention.
How do you tell if a tail light bulb is burnt out?
How do you find a short in a tail light wire?
Is there a fuse for each tail light?
On newer cars, the tail lamps can be fused separately and/or each bulb or shared circuit can be fused
. A fuse can be blown due to other problems, so you’ll need to check more than just the fuse, but it’s the right place to start. Look in your owner’s manual to determine where the fuse box is located in your car.
