Reasons Your Brake Lights Won’t Turn Off
Your brake lights are operable even if the engine and ignition are turned off. So here’s the situation: You shut off the engine and hop out of the car, walk around the back and the brake lights are on. How is this possible? Review failure modes 2 and 3 in the section above.
How to Check Brake Lights for Proper Operation
Several methods can be used to check brake light operation. And while you may want to just trust your clever instrument panel to do the work for you, there is nothing like seeing brake light behavior for yourself. Here are some easy ways to do this:
1) Use a Helper
Obviously the easiest way to test your brake lights, have a friend, family member, neighbor, or passenger either press the brake pedal while you watch or check the lights while you do the footwork.
2) Store Front Window Reflection
When away from home, find a shopping center which has parking directly in front of a store. You can use the store front window as a mirror. If car and foot traffic permits, back your car into a parking spot in front of a glass window panel.
Now look in the rear view mirror and apply the brakes. If all is well you should see all the brake lights turn on. You can check your rear turn signals and rear emergency flashers, too.
Repeat this with the engine and ignition off. Note any locations with no light operation for future corrective action. With ignition off, the turn signals will not operate.
3) Garage Door
If at home, pull your car into the garage and close the garage door behind you. In a dark garage, you’ll be able to see through your rearview or side mirrors if your brake lights are shining on the garage door when you press on the brake pedal.
You can also use this method in a covered parking garage away from home. Simply back into your parking space and check your review mirror for brake light operation while you apply the brakes. This is also a good way to test other lighting issues such as when your reverse lights don’t come on.
4) DIY Tool
If at home and you don’t have a helper handy or access to a garage, you can make a tool to press and hold down the brake pedal. Here’s how to make one:
1. Open the driver side door. With your left hand press the brake pedal down about an inch. Measure the distance from the pedal to the front of the driver’s seat. It will be about 18 to 22 inches depending on seat position.
2. Cut a length of 1” x 2” trim board or an old broom handle to this length.
3. Press down the pedal with this tool and wedge the rear end of the tool against the driver’s seat. The brake lights will now be ready for you to walk back there and check them. Remarkably, a simple snow brush is just about the right length to do this job.
