How to How Check Brake Lights

Brake lights are one of the most useful lights on an automobile. By warning drivers behind you when you are slowing down, they provide a measure of safety that is only exceeded by a vehicle's headlights. Check brake lights regularly in order to keep you and your vehicle's passengers safe, not to mention the lives of the drivers and passengers in other cars.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spare brake light bulbs
• Spare fuses
• Small notebook
• Pen
• Screwdriver
• Ratchet set

1. Position your car in such a way that you can see the brake lights operating. A wall or garage door works best for this purpose, especially in the early evening, when the brake lights will be more visible and easier for you to check.

2. Press down on your brake pedal while looking at the rear window. You should be able to see the reflection of your brake lights on the wall behind you.

3. Observe how your brake lights operate. Make sure that both sides of the vehicle are equally lit from the illumination of the brake lights, and ensure that the resulting glow is not weighted in favor of one light over the other.

4. Troubleshoot any problems that arise as a result of your brake light check. Note any problems in a small notebook if you do not feel comfortable memorizing them.

5. Check the fuses for your brake lights. The owner's manual of your automobile should tell you exactly where the fuse case is, although if you lack an owners manual, the fuse case is usually found beneath the dashboard in the driver's side area. The cover of the fuse case will provide a diagram of what fuse is responsible for which system.

6. Change all necessary fuses. Using the fuse removal tool provided by most automobile manufacturers is the best way, however they can be removed using one's fingers as well. Make sure you replace the fuses only with a fuse of the same type!

7. Replace the brake light bulbs by opening the trunk and removing the panel that leads to the brake lights. This will be different for every automobile, but there is no trick to how it's done. In many modern automobiles, the brake light panel is attached with an easy-to-remove wingnut, but be prepared by keeping a screwdriver and ratchet handy.

8. Consult an auto mechanic if replacing fuses and light bulbs do not solve any problems you have with the brake lights. This means that the problem is located in the vehicle's electrical system and should be treated by professionals.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an assistant to make checking your brake lights more efficient. While you can check your brake lights on your own, a second person can give you a definitive answer as to whether or not your brake lights work, taking away any guesswork on your part. An assistant can also inform you which of your brake lights are working, which can come in very handy when trying to ascertain whether or not the top brake light is operating. Finally, they can operate the brake pedal while you determine how the brake lights are working for yourself.