No rear brake lights

ED209 · 9 Sep 2017 at 17:15

Hyundai getz 2004 model.

The other half got told that she had no rear brake lights on the car so I have had a look at it today.

common search is the brake switch not working.

- Checked fuses - 10amp fuses and all fine. one for left and one for right side.
- removed brake switch to test and this is fine, created a circuit with batteries and a bulb in. when plunger out the circuit was complete and light came on when pushed in light was off.
- rear lights come on when head lights are on as normal just no brake lights when brake pedal pushed.

One thing I did try was bridge the connecter that plugs in to the brake switch and I still had no lights, my understanding is if I did this the lights would come on but nothing. I used a bit of cable from a hoover that was going in the bin.

Can anyone suggest anything else to try before I take it to the garage Monday? there is also a light in the middle of the rear window at the top which also does not work.

thanks!

paradigm · 9 Sep 2017 at 17:19

I'm going with a break in the loom somewhere.

jigger · 9 Sep 2017 at 17:41

Check the earth. 9 times out of 10 an oddball problems are caused by a failed earth.

Diddums · 9 Sep 2017 at 18:00

Did you actually try the lamps? Unlikely culprit bit it's a 13 year old car so very possible. Be a bit awkward if you strip half the car down only to find the lamps borked

rodenal · 9 Sep 2017 at 18:02

Trace the wiring back, check resistance and check earths as above

MissChief · 9 Sep 2017 at 18:19

Have you checked the bulbs? Obvious first point of call. It's likely she had one out for months and didn't realise and now the other has gone.

Abraxaz1 · 9 Sep 2017 at 18:23

Check the lamps.

Most cars have two stage lamps for tail lights a small coil for rear and a larger coil for the brakes, as the brakes are used more often and are constantly changing state they wear out faster.

Kaeo · 9 Sep 2017 at 19:53

Are the front brake lights okay?

Diddums · 9 Sep 2017 at 20:33

Kaeo said:
Are the front brake lights okay?

Hyburnate · 9 Sep 2017 at 20:52

Has the third brake light gone?

paradigm · 9 Sep 2017 at 21:36

Hyburnate said:
Has the third brake light gone?

Says in the OP that the third brake light doesn't work also, hence me assuming it's the loom.

pepsilol · 9 Sep 2017 at 21:39

Look under rear bumper for signs of towbar if it is second hand. Then trace wiring to the splice area and fix the loose connection.

Hyburnate · 9 Sep 2017 at 22:08

paradigm said:
Says in the OP that the third brake light doesn't work also, hence me assuming it's the loom.

I missed that at first.

Well at least you can establish it's highly unlikely to be the bulbs within the units or the units themselves. If the switch is working fine then it does sound like an electrical fault, possibly a grounding issue.

Heisenberg · 9 Sep 2017 at 22:20

Not something daft like the little bit on the pedal that contacts the switch has came off? I know the later hyundais had a recall for the brake switch that added an earth.

bainbridge · 9 Sep 2017 at 22:53

Are all the lights on the bootlid?

Might be the wiring broken down where the boot opens and closes.

paradigm · 9 Sep 2017 at 23:24

First thing I googled was the shape of the Getz tailgate, and no, the rear clusters are body mounted.

ED209 · 10 Sep 2017 at 08:05

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll be taking another look today as it started raining quite badly so had to stop.

I'll start with the loom as when bridging the connector that plugs in to the brake switch I still get nothing.

If it was the rubber part on the brake then the lights would be on all the time as there would be nothing to press in the switch to close it and turn the lights off.

jpaul · 10 Sep 2017 at 11:46

ED209 said:
- Checked fuses - 10amp fuses and all fine. one for left and one for right side.

two fuses seemed surprising, you would need a double pole brake switch too. - no ?

probably already did it - but do you get +12v at the brake switch input