Sunday, January 12, 2014
How to Fix Car Brake Lights
It is important to keep your vehicles brake lights functioning well. Brake lights serve as a guide to the driver behind you to brake when you are slowing your car down. Malfunctioning brake lights could cause accidents on the road. Fixing the car brake lights usually involves changing the malfunctioning light bulb.
Instructions
- 1
Park your vehicle and turn off the ignition. Open the vehicles trunk and access the brake light assembly and remove the red and yellow plastic cover of the brake lights by unscrewing it using the Phillips-head screwdriver in order to access the light bulb. Set aside the screws as it will be needed later on.
2Locate the brake light bulb. It is usually the center bulb of three bulbs located in the area. Unscrew the brake light bulb by pushing it slightly and turning it counterclockwise at the same time. Set it aside.
3Clean the area where you removed the bulb with a dry rag. You can also use a steel brush if there is accumulated dirt on the socket. The accumulated dirt can sometimes be the cause of the malfunctioning brake light.
4Install a new light bulb on the socket by pushing it slightly and twisting it in a clockwise direction. Make sure the bulb is aligned well and screwed in evenly.
5Check the light bulb to ensure it works by turning on the car and asking someone to push on the brake pedal while you go to the back of the vehicle to see if it lights up.
6Reattach the plastic cover by inserting the screws in the designated holes and tightening the screws, turning clockwise, using the Phillips-head screwdriver. Put back the brake light assembly at the back of the vehicles trunk.
7Remove the brake light cover on the vehicles other side and follow steps 2 to 6 to replace the light bulb.
