Most of the cars will have three brake lights, two of them will be incorporated within the taillights and the blinkers, and the third light will be set a little higher on the car, close to the rear window. There are various bulbs used for the brake lights usually depending on the car models. However, LED bulbs are used in most of the vehicles. If you know how to replace headlight, then you will save your extra trips to the mechanic. Here you will get more information about how to replace brake lights.
Types
The type of brake will be different in every vehicle. In most of the new vehicles, brake lights use the circuit boards and in old cars, the wiring will go directly in the bulb. All the brake lights in old and new cars run in parallel circuits, even if one goes out the others will keep working, unlike of those run in series, where if one fails all the others fail.
Features
There are two elements in brake lights and both of them will have different intensity. Lower intensity is used for the taillights, but when the driver starts pressing the brake pedal, the higher intensity in the bulb will light up in conjunction with lower intensity elements inside the bulb and will increase the brightness of the bulb. This will alert the driver from behind that your car is going to slow down or come to complete stop.
Benefits
If your vehicle is equipped with LED brake lights, then you will notice that when the driver hits the brake, the LED lights will have higher illumination than the standard bulb lights. The LED lights can consist of many bulbs, which come with sequential line and catch the attention of the driver faster due to the blinking.
Considerations
The wiring of the brake lights is engineered with great safety, allowing the bulbs to work excluding the blown bulb. This will not apply if the brake light switch is not working. If the switch of the brake light is defective, none of the brake lights will work, and you will never get a warning when the driver in front is about to slow down or come to halt. In this situation, it is best to get the brake lights replaced before any more problems arise. Replacing brake lights is a very simple process; here are some simple steps on how to replace brake lights.
Steps:
- Before you start replacing the brake lights, you must know that there are various car models and all have a different configuration, so refer to the instructions manual of your car.
- Now, the first step for replacing the brake light will be to open the taillight. On the inside of the body, you will see two round black discs, which will be of dime size. This disc will be situated between the red lens and weather striping.
- Take a pair of pliers and start pulling out one disc at a time. Remember that these discs will be tightly fitted, so you will have to use some force to pull them out.
- When you are removing the discs, make sure that the inner part of the disc also comes out. There will be two parts in the system of the disc, a plug and grommet. For replacing the brake lights, you will have to push the plug backwards through grommet. The grommet will fit in the actual hole inside the body, and will spread by the plug through the pressure that holds them in place.
- Very carefully remove the plug and grommet. When you are about to pull the second grommet the lens assembly will fall out, so you will have to be careful.
- Check the wiring harness, which connects with the plug on the inside. Besides the plug there will be two holders for holding the actual bulbs. Take out the holder by pressing the sides inside and pull them. When you pull it out, the light sockets will come out.
- Now, replace the brake light. For this, you will have to first pull out the old and damaged bulb and place the bulb inside firmly.
- You are now done. After this, check the lights for which you will have to start the engine, press the brake pedal, switch on the signal light and see if everything is working well.
- If the brake lights are working, then slide the front edge in the assembly inside the guide. Press the back end well in place. Now you will have to press the inner part of the grommet inside the hole. Push the outer part of grommet inside; this process will require you to apply a little force. However, make sure that the grommet lines perfectly with the outer plug grommet.
- Check the lights once again and you are done with replacing the brake lights.
Tips and Warnings:
- During this process some bulbs are easy to pull out. Other kinds of bulbs will need rotation inside the bulb socket in counterclockwise direction, while other will be fixed in sockets and notches.
- To get brighter auto taillights, you will have to change the stock single filament tail light bulbs with some other bulb with high power. Smaller kinds are capable of protecting the plastic lens with heat.
- For replacing the brake light, give yourself plenty of time to start and finish the process in one single day. The last thing you want is losing an important component from the brake system.
- Remember that when replacing brake light you will have to disconnect the battery before you start working with electrical connections. Always remember that you must never use acetone or any other solvents for cleaning plastic parts.
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