Your car battery needs to be in a good state for your car to run, and while they last for about three to five years on average (according to Nationwide), they can sometimes fail a lot faster.
Various electrical issues can occur which could degrade your car battery. Being aware of these will help you get the most out of yours so you don't have to replace it too soon. It could be something as simple as a light on the dashboard staying on and draining the battery.
In this guide, we'll look at some of the reasons why car brake lights stay on. Some common reasons include:
- Wrong light bulbs installed
- Defective brake pedal or spring
- Malfunctioning electrical system
- Faulty brake light switch or stopper
We'll also discuss the risks of driving with a faulty break light and how an auto repair shop in Killeen can help with the issue. Let's get started.
Reasons Car Brake Lights Stay On
Brake lights are very important, and should always come on when you press the brake pedal. However, if you notice yours stays on when you remove your foot from the pedal, then there's clearly some kind of issue. You should seek out automotive repair in Killeen, TX, if you think you're facing one of the following issues.
Faulty Brake Light Switch or Stopper
The reason a brake light comes on is because pressing the brake pedal closes the stop light switch (sometimes called a brake switch or brake light sensor). If the stop light switch is faulty, it's possible that it won't register the release of the brakes. The brake light will then stay on, even after you turn off the ignition.
When the brake pedal arm is released, the brake light switch stopper turns the switch off. A broken or missing striker can cause issues here, so the sensor may think the brake pedal is still pressed down. The brake light will therefore stay on.
Defective Brake Pedal or Spring
When you release the brake, the pedal arm should automatically revert back to its original position. This might not happen if the brake pedal or pedal spring is defective. Some possible causes of this include:
- A weak spring
- Brake pedal wear
- A bad brake booster
- Corroded components in the brake assembly
Any of these can cause a brake light issue, and possibly other brake pad and rotor problems. You should seek out brake repair in Killeen, Texas if you think you're facing this kind of problem.
Malfunctioning Electrical System
Modern cars have complex electrical systems, and while these offer a lot of benefits, they also present several opportunities for things to go wrong. A blown fuse or damaged wiring harness can cause various issues and may affect your brake light circuit. If you have stuck brake lights or other car lights problems, this could be the cause.
Sometimes, electrical issues may not be easily noticeable. They can drain your battery even after turning the ignition off, so you want to make sure they're dealt with as soon as possible. Preventative vehicle maintenance in Killeen, Texas can help you avoid this, but it still might happen, in which case you'll want to contact a professional auto repair shop.
Wrong Light Bulbs Installed
This isn't something that happens often, but it's always possible. A car can have a brake socket made for either a one-circuit (both lights on the same circuit) or a two-circuit (each bulb has its own circuit) bulb. It's important to get the right bulb for your vehicle.
The wrong bulb can short the circuit, causing issues such as your brake lights staying on. Note that in some vehicles, the brake light and tail light are shared, while others have separate bulbs. Make sure you always get suitable bulbs for your vehicle to avoid issues.
Is It Safe to Drive With Malfunctioning Brake Lights?
To put it simply: No. Safety is incredibly important on the road, and if your brake lights are constantly on, it could confuse other drivers. They won't know when you're braking, and this could easily lead to accidents.
If you have a defective brake pedal, it can wear down brake pads and rotors faster, leading to brake system failure. If the light stays on when you're not using your car, it can also drain the battery very quickly.
Defective brakes can cause gear-shifting issues in automatic cars. In these, you might need to use your brakes when shifting to drive or reverse, and you may encounter issues with this.
Additionally, it's not legal. The police could pull you over for a faulty brake light and you could be fined under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 108.
When facing any brake light issues, you should look for professional auto repair in Killeen.
Fixing a Faulty Brake Light
You may be tempted to try to fix your brake lights yourself, but this may not be a good idea. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of the issue, and there's a lot that can go wrong when carrying out repairs. Professional car repair in Killeen, Texas, from a qualified mechanic, is the best choice.
They'll typically follow these steps to diagnose the issue and fix it:
- Disengaging the battery
- Testing the brake pedal to make sure it's functioning properly
- Checking for a bad switch (replacing if it's faulty)
- Inspecting the rubber or spastic stopper to see if it's damaged or missing
- Disconnecting the wiring harness and checking for damage
- Assessing other potential brake system issues and addressing them
- Inspecting the brake light fuse and replacing it if there are issues
Professional Killeen, Texas, mechanics can do all of this without causing any further issues. Make sure you go with a reputable auto repair shop like Phil's Service so you can have peace of mind knowing things will be handled properly.
Quality Car Repairs From Phil's Service
If you notice that your car brake lights stay on even after you release the pedal or when you turn the ignition off, you shouldn't ignore it. Phil's Service is the only ASE Blue Seal-certified repair shop in Killeen, and we can carry out any vehicle repairs you need. Get in touch to request your appointment today.
Your car battery needs to be in a good state for your car to run, and while they last for about three to five years on average (according to Nationwide), they can sometimes fail a lot faster.
Various electrical issues can occur which could degrade your car battery. Being aware of these will help you get the most out of yours so you don't have to replace it too soon. It could be something as simple as a light on the dashboard staying on and draining the battery.
In this guide, we'll look at some of the reasons why car brake lights stay on. Some common reasons include:
- Wrong light bulbs installed
- Defective brake pedal or spring
- Malfunctioning electrical system
- Faulty brake light switch or stopper
We'll also discuss the risks of driving with a faulty break light and how an auto repair shop in Killeen can help with the issue. Let's get started.
Reasons Car Brake Lights Stay On
Brake lights are very important, and should always come on when you press the brake pedal. However, if you notice yours stays on when you remove your foot from the pedal, then there's clearly some kind of issue. You should seek out automotive repair in Killeen, TX, if you think you're facing one of the following issues.
Faulty Brake Light Switch or Stopper
The reason a brake light comes on is because pressing the brake pedal closes the stop light switch (sometimes called a brake switch or brake light sensor). If the stop light switch is faulty, it's possible that it won't register the release of the brakes. The brake light will then stay on, even after you turn off the ignition.
When the brake pedal arm is released, the brake light switch stopper turns the switch off. A broken or missing striker can cause issues here, so the sensor may think the brake pedal is still pressed down. The brake light will therefore stay on.
Defective Brake Pedal or Spring
When you release the brake, the pedal arm should automatically revert back to its original position. This might not happen if the brake pedal or pedal spring is defective. Some possible causes of this include:
- A weak spring
- Brake pedal wear
- A bad brake booster
- Corroded components in the brake assembly
Any of these can cause a brake light issue, and possibly other brake pad and rotor problems. You should seek out brake repair in Killeen, Texas if you think you're facing this kind of problem.
Malfunctioning Electrical System
Modern cars have complex electrical systems, and while these offer a lot of benefits, they also present several opportunities for things to go wrong. A blown fuse or damaged wiring harness can cause various issues and may affect your brake light circuit. If you have stuck brake lights or other car lights problems, this could be the cause.
Sometimes, electrical issues may not be easily noticeable. They can drain your battery even after turning the ignition off, so you want to make sure they're dealt with as soon as possible. Preventative vehicle maintenance in Killeen, Texas can help you avoid this, but it still might happen, in which case you'll want to contact a professional auto repair shop.
Wrong Light Bulbs Installed
This isn't something that happens often, but it's always possible. A car can have a brake socket made for either a one-circuit (both lights on the same circuit) or a two-circuit (each bulb has its own circuit) bulb. It's important to get the right bulb for your vehicle.
The wrong bulb can short the circuit, causing issues such as your brake lights staying on. Note that in some vehicles, the brake light and tail light are shared, while others have separate bulbs. Make sure you always get suitable bulbs for your vehicle to avoid issues.
Is It Safe to Drive With Malfunctioning Brake Lights?
To put it simply: No. Safety is incredibly important on the road, and if your brake lights are constantly on, it could confuse other drivers. They won't know when you're braking, and this could easily lead to accidents.
If you have a defective brake pedal, it can wear down brake pads and rotors faster, leading to brake system failure. If the light stays on when you're not using your car, it can also drain the battery very quickly.
Defective brakes can cause gear-shifting issues in automatic cars. In these, you might need to use your brakes when shifting to drive or reverse, and you may encounter issues with this.
Additionally, it's not legal. The police could pull you over for a faulty brake light and you could be fined under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 108.
When facing any brake light issues, you should look for professional auto repair in Killeen.
Fixing a Faulty Brake Light
You may be tempted to try to fix your brake lights yourself, but this may not be a good idea. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of the issue, and there's a lot that can go wrong when carrying out repairs. Professional car repair in Killeen, Texas, from a qualified mechanic, is the best choice.
They'll typically follow these steps to diagnose the issue and fix it:
- Disengaging the battery
- Testing the brake pedal to make sure it's functioning properly
- Checking for a bad switch (replacing if it's faulty)
- Inspecting the rubber or spastic stopper to see if it's damaged or missing
- Disconnecting the wiring harness and checking for damage
- Assessing other potential brake system issues and addressing them
- Inspecting the brake light fuse and replacing it if there are issues
Professional Killeen, Texas, mechanics can do all of this without causing any further issues. Make sure you go with a reputable auto repair shop like Phil's Service so you can have peace of mind knowing things will be handled properly.
Quality Car Repairs From Phil's Service
If you notice that your car brake lights stay on even after you release the pedal or when you turn the ignition off, you shouldn't ignore it. Phil's Service is the only ASE Blue Seal-certified repair shop in Killeen, and we can carry out any vehicle repairs you need. Get in touch to request your appointment today.
