Issues with exterior lights
05-08-2013
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Issues with exterior lights
I have 2004 Honda Civic VP Coupe and I was wondering if anyone can help me out with this issue. I'll try to explain as simply as possible.
If I have the headlights off and I press the brake, the brake lights come on like normal but for some reason parking lights up front come on too. Weird.
If I have the headlights on, then the brake lights appear to be on already, even the one underneath the rear window, even though I'm not pressing on the brake. Then if I press the brake, then all 3 lights appear only very slightly brighter.
Obviously, this is really bad when I'm driving at night as it appears I'm driving around with my brake lights on at all times and when I actually do press on the brakes, you can barely tell.
I have no idea what's going on. I checked all the fuses and bulbs and everything appears to be fine. Could it be an issue with a switch or a relay? I'm kind of a novice at this and any suggestions would be appreciated.
If I have the headlights off and I press the brake, the brake lights come on like normal but for some reason parking lights up front come on too. Weird.
If I have the headlights on, then the brake lights appear to be on already, even the one underneath the rear window, even though I'm not pressing on the brake. Then if I press the brake, then all 3 lights appear only very slightly brighter.
Obviously, this is really bad when I'm driving at night as it appears I'm driving around with my brake lights on at all times and when I actually do press on the brakes, you can barely tell.
I have no idea what's going on. I checked all the fuses and bulbs and everything appears to be fine. Could it be an issue with a switch or a relay? I'm kind of a novice at this and any suggestions would be appreciated.
05-08-2013
#2
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Issues with exterior lights
Sounds like the brake light circuit is shorted to the parking light circuit.
Where? Can't tell you that. Somewhere between the dash and the rear of the car.
Guess? Maybe you have one or more wrong bulbs in the tail/brake sockets? Disconnect brake/tail socket wire connector from one side at a time, see if it goes back to normal.
Any work ever done in the rear, like bodyshop or other electrical stuff? Start there.
HTH
Where? Can't tell you that. Somewhere between the dash and the rear of the car.
Guess? Maybe you have one or more wrong bulbs in the tail/brake sockets? Disconnect brake/tail socket wire connector from one side at a time, see if it goes back to normal.
Any work ever done in the rear, like bodyshop or other electrical stuff? Start there.
HTH
05-09-2013
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Someone else checked the all the bulbs for me again and noticed one of the rear brake light bulb filaments was loose and barely touching the other one. Replaced it and everything seems to be working like normal again. I feel dumb it was something I missed the first time.
Thank you CraigW and ezone for your suggestions, much appreciated.
05-25-2022
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I have one brake light out. The other 2 work when I depress the brake pedal. Swapped out the lamp, but still no luck. When I turn on the head lights, it will come on, but when I depress the brake pedal, it goes off again. Help please.
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CraigW (05-26-2022)
05-26-2022
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