6 Reasons Why Tail Lights Not Working But Brake Lights Are

Both brake lights and tail lights are critical to road safety. If any of these don't work, other drivers behind you won't be able to see if you're moving. It can lead to serious accidents, especially during driving at night, at dusk or in bad weather such as rain and snow.  Headlights are essential in cars because they can help you improve road safety. While driving a vehicle without taillights, someone may accidentally hit you from behind.

Therefore, it's best to keep an eye on your vehicle before they develop serious problems. Many of you may be wondering why the tail lights not working but brake lights are. If you are one of them, then this article is for you. We'll explain why this problem occurs and suggest some ways to help you fix this. Let's start!

When a taillight is damaged, the first thing to check is the fuse. A fuse is basically a metal band inside a plastic container whose main job is to disconnect when the current becomes too high. This protects other parts of the electrical system from damage. This keeps the car's entire electrical system running smoothly.

Every electronic device in the car is powered by a cable that runs through a fuse box. So when certain fuses blow, it cuts the circuit and its lights will stop working.

To check the fuse, you need to find the fuse box first. Please be careful to turn off the ignition before checking to avoid electric shock.

Cars are usually equipped with two or more fuse boxes. You can use a flashlight to better identify taillight fuses.

The first is in the cockpit panel of the vehicle. This is usually located on the front passenger side, behind a plastic panel under the dashboard.

The second is the main fuse box under the hood. This big black box has a lot of wires attached to it. Once you take the lid off the top of it, you can access the fuse inside.

Also, obviously each fuse controls different electrical components of the car, so you have to look for the right one. You can identify them by using a user's manual, or by looking online for a specific chart of year, make, model. Or you can look it up on the Internet.

Once you have identified the fuse that controls the taillight, you can use the fuse tester to see if it is up and running. If the fuse is good, it will light up. If it does not light, then you will have to buy a replacement. Make sure the fuse is replaced with a fuse of the same size and number of amps.

Brake lights and tail lights usually use double filament bulbs. You can click here to learn more about the difference between tail light vs brake light. If the tail lights are not working but brake lights are, it is possible that the filament controlling the brake lights is damaged.

So if your taillights don't work, you need to check that your bulbs are working properly.

Check the taillight bulb itself. This usually involves removing the tail lampshade, although some cars have a access panel in which you can reach in and unscrew the bulb from the lens. Loosen the lens cap with a screwdriver, then pull it down to remove it. And check the filament carefully. A filament is the wire inside a bulb that produces light. A damaged filament means no lighting and you need to replace it with a new bulb. When finished, use the same screws to connect the lid.

In addition, many manufacturers use separate bulbs for taillights and brake lights. If the taillight bulb burns out, you need to replace it.

Finally, if you just changed the bulb, the problem may be that you used the wrong bulb. Some people think that if it fits, it's the right light bulb. That's not true. If you still have an old bulb, check the part number and compare it to a replacement bulb.

If you have given up on old bulbs, check your user manual or Google to try and find the right bulb for your vehicle! Remember, brand doesn't matter, but if you're switching brands, part numbers need to be cross-compatible.

Control switches in the cab of your vehicle are another possible reason your car's taillights may not work even if the brake lights are on. Normally, this switch turns on the headlights, taillights, and parking lights. If the switch is faulty, there will be no signal, making it impossible to turn on the taillights.

To determine if this is the case, you can pull it out of the dashboard and check with a multimeter to verify that it has failed.

If you're not used to doing this, you can always show it to someone with more experience or hand it over to a professional to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Since each bulb has a power supply, the two lamps use different wiring. Damaged or broken wiring can cause taillights to not work, but brake lights can. If no current reaches the socket and the fuse is well checked, there is likely to be damage or a break somewhere in the line. Broken wires, crossed wires and excessive corrosion are common problems, especially for older cars.

So, when your taillight is faulty but the brake light is working, you should check your wiring. In this case, you need to obtain the wiring diagram and visually check for broken wires or broken insulation along the taillight circuit. It's also important to look at the wiring diagram. It will give you an idea of how your car lighting system works and show you how to make subtle changes.

Be sure to check the body grounding of this circuit. Dirty, loose, or broken ground cables can also prevent power from being supplied to sockets.

If the bulb and fuse are in good condition, check the socket before removing the bulb. Sometimes a faulty socket may cause the taillight to not work.

If your vehicle's taillights are not properly sealed, everything inside will be exposed to these elements. While this can cause all sorts of problems, the most vulnerable area is the socket itself. These sockets rusted and corroded when exposed to elements, leading to various electrical problems.

Whenever you change a light bulb, you should look at the socket itself to see if it is in good condition. If there is corrosion, clean the socket with a wire brush and WD-40. However, if the damage is severe, the socket needs to be replaced.

Look for any discoloration, such as white, blue or brown, as well as bent or broken stitches. It's also a good idea to check the current in the outlet with a multimeter. No current reaching the pin means there is a failure somewhere in the wire.

A bad or dirty ambient daylight sensor may also be the cause of the problem "tail lights not working but brake lights are". 

Many modern cars also have ambient light sensors on their dashboards. This allows the vehicle's computer to automatically turn the headlights and taillights on and off depending on the degree of light or darkness outside.

Some also turn off daytime running lights on newer vehicles. If your parking lights and headlights aren't on, but your brake lights are still on, this could be the culprit.

If the sensor is broken, or too dirty, it can't tell if it's light or dark outside, and may not turn on the light. But again, this affects headlights and taillights, and can be easily tested by manually turning the headlight switch to the on position.

When you own your car, you also need to check it regularly. This check will help you ensure that everything is working properly. In general, tracking down electrical failures can be tricky and frustrating. Thankfully, taillight bulbs usually run on their own isolated circuits, so the problem "tail lights not working but brake lights are" can be traced with relative ease.