GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005) Discussion about the second generation GS300, GS400 and GS430 (1998 - 2005)

Brake lights not working....

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Old 10-31-11, 09:52 AM
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Hypebeast
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Default Brake lights not working....

Any ideas?

Symptoms:

Brakes light up when pressed. Turn signals work, reverse works.

Brakes do not light up at night (but again, work when pressed).

I checked the fuses, i'll double check again tonight (any fuse I should check that wouldn't be the obvious choice?)

Double checked the tail light failure sensor, that wasn't burnt, even swapped in a new one, didn't fix the issue.
Old 10-31-11, 09:54 AM
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I would guess ur bulbs are burnt
Old 10-31-11, 09:55 AM
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have you tried flipping the way the connection is plugged on the light?
Old 10-31-11, 10:36 AM
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Originally Posted by excluesive
have you tried flipping the way the connection is plugged on the light?
please explain...


Also, bulbs burnt? Wouldn't the brake lights not light up then? I don't have any bulb out indicator on the dash
Old 10-31-11, 10:44 AM
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02Legend
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The brake lights are dual filament. Low and high, when pressed the high filament lights up. When normally on, the low filament is on. It could be the low filament out, but it would be strange if all of them did that at the same time.
Old 10-31-11, 10:57 AM
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Cant assume until check. Try checking it. Do the simple things first
Old 10-31-11, 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by 02Legend
The brake lights are dual filament. Low and high, when pressed the high filament lights up. When normally on, the low filament is on. It could be the low filament out, but it would be strange if all of them did that at the same time.

Originally Posted by GS4_Fiend
Cant assume until check. Try checking it. Do the simple things first
Interesting, thanks guys! I would love if that was the easy fix.
Old 10-31-11, 01:38 PM
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I thought you were still using the LED tails..... I didn't know you switched back to OEM.
Old 10-31-11, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by excluesive
I thought you were still using the LED tails..... I didn't know you switched back to OEM.
Well, this problem started after I installed LED tails. Switched back to OEM in order to diagnose the issue and take out all variables, and i'm still having this issue with OEM.
Old 10-31-11, 03:58 PM
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Noticed my side-markers aren't lighting up either.

Replaced my sidemarker bulbs, and the brake running light bulbs, still no dice, sidemarkers and brakes aren't lighting up (unless brake pedal is pushed)
Any other ideas?
Old 10-31-11, 09:56 PM
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lexo98
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Just had the same problem last week. It was one of the fuses on the drivers side fuse pannel. I think it said tail lights on it. I dont have side markers anymore, and I think I shorted out the old connector.
Old 10-31-11, 11:56 PM
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Check to see if you have power getting to the bulb sockets, If not check fuses on left and right kick panels.
Old 11-04-11, 12:26 PM
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So I can put this to rest.

My mechanic figured it out and it explains while I was having such a tough time diagnosing this.

As 02Legend correctly guessed, 2 of my bulbs had the low filament out, on top of that, I also had a fuse blown, that looked not blown. (i ended up replacing the wrong bulbs that weren't lighting up at all).

Now everything lights up - side markers and brakes.
Old 11-04-11, 01:43 PM
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02Legend
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Glad to hear you got it figured out and fixed. I work with electronics for a living and sometimes it can be a real pain in the *** to pinpoint the problem. Fuses can look fine to the naked eye when glancing at them. If possible check them with a fuse tester or multi-meter when possible.
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