How to Fix a Stuck Brake Light

Your brake lights are an essential part of your braking system and your warning system. When your brake lights stay on, other drivers cannot tell when you are actually stopping. This can lead to an accident. The lights being stuck on can also lead to drained batteries and bulbs. This article will tell you how to fix a stuck brake light.

Steps

1. 1
   Look at your brake pedal with a flashlight and find the brake pedal switch, which engages the lights. Most cars have this switch built into the pedal.

   
   

   • Problems with this switch are the most common reasons for brake lights to be stuck on.
2. 2
   Press on the switch and attempt to move it from side to side with your finger. Your switch should pop up and move slightly.
   • Your switch needs to be replaced if it does not move. The steps to replace this switch are given below.
3. 3
   Disconnect the negative cable from your battery.
4. 4
   Press the tabs of the wiring harness to disconnect it from the switch you are replacing. Remove a retaining clip and washer with a pair of pliers if your vehicle was built before 1990.
5. 5
   Rotate the brake switch counter clockwise and pull it out of the mounting bracket for newer vehicles.
   • Slide the switch toward you until it comes free of the bracket. There is no rotating needed for older cars.
6. 6
   Push the brake pedal down with one hand while inserting the new switch into the mounting bracket with the other hand. Let the pedal come back up to its normal position.
   • Place the new switch over the mounting stud in older vehicles so the "U" shape is near the pedal. Slide the switch up and down to trap the pushrod and move it toward the pedal arm.
7. 7
   Rotate your switch clockwise until it locks into place. Plug the wiring harness back into the switch.
   • Reinstall the washer and retaining clip for older cars. Reattach the wiring harness to the plug.
8. 8
   Check your work by applying the brakes several times.

   
   

Tips

• Stuck brake lights can occasionally be caused by an intermittent electrical problem. If your switch is not the culprit, try removing both cables from the battery for several minutes to reset the car's system. Reconnect your battery and see if the problem reoccurs.

Warnings

• Take your car to a qualified mechanic if the switch is working properly and 2 attempts at resetting the electrical system do not work. This could indicate an electrical problem that must be serviced by a professional.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight
• New brake switch
• Pliers

How to Fix a Burned Out Signal Bulb

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Have you ever been yelled at while driving your car? Do drivers pass by and point down at your car? Maybe you have noticed when you use your turn signal the signal indicator appears to be flashing faster or perhaps does not come on at all. If so, it might be time to fix a burned out signal bulb.

Steps

1. 1
   Find out which signal light bulb that has burned out by parking the car in a safe location, such as your driveway of your house. Set the emergency brake and leave the engine running and the transmission in neutral (if a standard transmission), or in park if an automatic.

   
   

   • Turn on the signal lever/switch for a left or right turn. Get out of the car to check the front and rear to see if the lights are on.
   • Repeat the process for the other side. The light that is not working will be the one to replace.
2. 2
   Replace the front signal bulb (if applicable).
   • On older cars and pickup trucks, the signal/parking lights usually are separate from the headlight. You will need to unscrew and remove the cover over the signal light. From there, gently grab the bulb between your fingers and push in while twisting the bulb then pull out. Reverse the process to install the new bulb. Check to see if the light is working.
   • On newer cars and trucks, the turn signal and parking light are part of the headlight assembly. Open the hood and look on the back side of the headlight assembly. You will see the signal socket inserted in the back of the headlight. Grab hold of the socket and twist it to your left and pull it out. Remove the signal bulb and reverse the process for installing a new light bulb. Check and verify that the signal is now working.
3. 3
   Swap out the rear signal bulb according to the type and age of your vehicle.
   • Access to a signal bulb on an older car will be from the outside by removing the tail light cover. Gently grab hold of the barrel type bulb pushing in while turning the bulb to your right. You should feel it move past the notch, securing it. Pull the bulb out and reverse the process for installations, then check to see if the light is working.
   • On newer vehicles, access the bulb from within the trunk or inside. If an SUV, remove the panel over the rear light. If it is a car, first push aside the trunk liner. Now, grab hold of the socket extending from the back of the light and twist it to your left. Remove the socket from within the light assembly. Pull the bulb from the socket, insert a new one and reinstall the light socket by reversing the removal process.

   
   

Tips

• There are two types of signal bulbs - the barrel type that pushes and turns to remove and install and the plug type, which is found on newer vehicles. These you pull to remove and push in to install.
• You may need to remove certain components, such as the battery, to get access to the headlight assembly from under the hood.
• A pair of mechanic's gloves offers good protection from cuts when changing out the bulbs in case of accidental breakage.
• Should you break a barrel type of bulb while it is still in the socket, a set of needle nose pliers can be used to grab the metal barrel and push and twist to remove from the socket.
• Signal bulbs come in packs of 2. It is advisable to replace both the right and left signal bulbs at the same time.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Needle nose pliers
• Mechanics gloves

• Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Fix a Burned Out Signal Bulb. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Fix Turn Signal on Lexas Gx 470

steps

1. 1
   Raise the forward plastic covering using a standard (flat) screwdriver to loosen the plastic rivets and taking care not to apply too much pressure or else the rivet may break.
2. 2
   Reach down into the space between the battery and the bumper. You will find 3 light fixtures. One which is clearly visible and is the main headlight. The turn signal is under and to the right.
3. 3
   Once you have ascertained the location of the turn signal you will find that it is round with wires attached to the middle. You will not be able to see this so you must feel for it.
4. 4
   Turn the entire round portion about 1/8 to your right. It may be a little difficult so apply a moderate amount of pressure. It seems to lock in place so you must overcome the locking mechanism. The entire light fixture (cylinder with light attached can then be moved to a location where you can actually see the entire fixture.
5. 5
   Unplug the light bulb and plug your new one in (unlike house fixtures it pops right out.) The tricky part is feeling your way back to the round hole. Once you have fit the fixture back into the hole, that is it.

   
   

Tips

• You see the entire covered engine; you must remove the part with the white sticker on it. Then stick your hand into the opening between the battery (yellow sticker) and the front.

Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Fix Turn Signal on Lexas Gx 470All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Fix GM Clusters Back Light And/or Stepper Motors

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Here is how to fix problems with GM clusters for problems with lighting or stepper motors. This would cause dark areas on your cluster or for stepper motors erratic or non functioning gauges.

Steps

1. 1
   Order your parts if you can, in advance. These should be easy to find online bulbs and Stepper motors are pretty much common trough out.

   
   

   • Stepper Motor for Gm 2000-2006 X25.168 replacing the XC5.168
   • Bulbs look on E-Bay for GM cluster bulbs there is a lot of them!
2. 2
   First with any GM vehicles you will need to pull the cluster out. This will require removal of the dash.
3. 3
   Second Cluster is out. You must tear it down to the board. Again Pics are for 2004 Sunfire but it's pretty much all the same with GM. Take great care when removing the indicating needles you should be able to twist them off. DO NOT PULL EXCESSIVELY!
4. 4
   Now comes the fun part Soldering! READ ALL WARNINGS.
   • For the stepper motors there is 4 soldering points per motor as per my pics. One hand have the soldering iron and the other the solder sucker(cranked and ready to suck). Apply heat till solder melts then suck solder and remove heat. Again take Care to not apply pressure on the soldering iron it doesn't work better because you have more pressure!!! What does work is melting a little solder on your iron to make better contact with the work.
5. 5
   Work on the bulbs. For the bulbs it is much the same as the stepper motors remove and move on. The bulb that lights the odometer back light requires you to remove the odometer LCD to gain access. Make sure you are good with soldering. you may want to bring it in to a TV repair shop or at least to someone that can solder or refer to tips and sent it to a cluster repair shop.
6. 6
   Finally soldering reinstall everything you just removed. Measure contact length and trim to fit should stick out 1/16 inch. When remember to be in and out don't heat the board (you will burn it). Put solder on your iron touch contact and apply more solder with other hand! don't put too much. Walls of your solder connection should be concave.
7. 7
   re-install cluster, dash, all screws... you should have none left at the end of the project!

Tips

• Don't let GM get your money!! If you are not comfortable with soldering there is many online cluster repair shops that will be glad to do this for you usually about 150$.

• Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Fix GM Clusters Back Light And/or Stepper Motors All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

  
  

How to Fix Dashboard Lights That Won't Light

Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual.

When the dashboard lights in your vehicle malfunction or cease to operate, the resulting effects can range from being a mere annoyance to posing a safety hazard. Locating the problem and finding a remedy is essential. To fix dashboard lights that won't light, follow these suggestions.

Steps

1. 1
   Evaluate the problem methodically. Begin the process by trying the simplest of solutions first. Most vehicles have a dashboard lights control switch that will dim the dashboard lights, as well as turn them off. Check the control switch, which should be located on the console near the steering column.

   
   

   • If you are having trouble locating the dashboard lights control switch, refer to your vehicle's owner manual for further assistance.
2. 2
   Check the dashboard light fuse. A blown fuse can disable the vehicle's dashboard light. The fuse box may be under the hood, or on the floor, near the brake pedal, or there may be 2 fuse boxes in both places. Refer to the diagram on the fuse box cover to locate the correct fuse. Replace the dashboard light fuse if necessary.
   • Make certain to use the exact replacement dashboard light fuse to avoid the potential of electrical failure in your vehicle's dashboard.
3. 3
   Test the dashboard light bulbs. If the fuses are working properly, check for a blown bulb in the dashboard. Following the manufacturer's instructions, remove the face plate covering your vehicle's dashboard gauge panel. Remove the screws holding the plate on. Carefully remove the face plate. The bulb should be on the back of the panel.
   • Twist and pull the bulb to retrieve it from the socket. To prevent breaking the glass, be careful not to turn or pull the bulb too hard.
   • Once you have removed the bulb, examine the filament for damage. If the glass inside the bulb is charred or discolored, replace the light bulb using the exact type of bulb.
   • Purchase a new bulb and bulb grease from an auto parts store. Apply grease on the metal base to increase the longevity of the bulb.
   • If you are uncertain of the light bulb's condition, allow a customer service representative at the auto parts store examine it.
   • If the bulb is not bad, carefully reinsert it, applying a small dab of light bulb grease on the metal base of the bulb.
4. 4
   Acquire a professional opinion. If attempting to isolate the problem proves unsuccessful, consider taking your vehicle to a qualified mechanic to fix dashboard lights that won't light. The problem may be in the electrical system, or faulty wiring. Get at least 1 additional estimate if you are uncomfortable with the price a mechanic quotes you.

   
   

Warnings

• Avoid driving at night if possible until the lights are fixed. Malfunctioning dashboard lights will not be as critical in the daytime, but are still valuable assessment indicators and should be repaired as soon as possible.

Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Fix Dashboard Lights That Won't Light All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.