i took my 98 base prelude to get it inspected today. i had just changed the tires and i replaced my exhaust because of a hole in my muffler from my car scraping on a curb (long story). anyway, they checked tires, front and rear blinker, head lights, parking lights, tail lights.. they all worked..but..when they pressed the break lights they did not light..but they turn on..they just dont light when ever you press the break pedal...ive checked every fuse that has to do with the lighting..i even checked the bulbs even though they turn on when the headlights are switched on. anybody had this problem and not post it? cause i searched and found nothing...please help.. i need the car for work..and with no break lights in gonna get hit, or ticked
thanks for reading.

 

Have you changed those bulbs recently? The brake lights are 7443's. If you did change them, I'd check to see if you have the correct bulb in there. If so, or you haven't changed them, then I'd have someone hit the brake for you and test the socket with a volt meter or test-light.

 

Make sure you use 7443 (2 filaments bulb), if you use 7440 only 1 filament. Check to see if you used the wrong one.

 

i just took the break blubs out and pluged them in the front turn signal socket (which i think uses the same bulb as the break light)..and they light up so they are not blown..and they do not light up when i hit the break (i had a buddy press the break while it stand behind.(so i would quess the volt meter would not detect any volts.) i dont under stand how every light could work except thouse..i though all the lights were wired together.

 

Yes they might work, but if they are only single filament bulbs then one of the functions won't light up (e.g. - brakes)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xbn83 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Make sure you use 7443 (2 filaments bulb), if you use 7440 only 1 filament. Check to see if you used the wrong one.</TD></TR></TABLE>


If you can't see the number on the base of the bulb, just go to any general auto parts store and get a pack of #7443 and compare to what you have.

 

if i come to the conclution that it is not the bulb then what else could it be?

 

you don't seem to be getting it tho, a two filament bulb - has two filaments, one - that is lit when you have your lights on, and the second filament - only comes on when you hit the brakes. if you (or previous owner?) once bought a single filament bulb - instead of the proper 2 filament bulb - you would have the exact situation you are in - of course if you plug your single filament bulb into another socket it's going to light up. I bet if you chucked those bulbs into another lude - they would do the same thing.

it could be something else, but i sorta doubt it

 

no..i get it...but the bulbs that have been working are the same bulbs that are not working now..i took one of them out and pluged them into a socket to see if they were burnt out..it wasn't it still worked..so i dont belive its the bulb that are my problem sence they have been working and still light..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 5200BB6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i took one of them out and pluged them into a socket to see if they were burnt out..it wasn't it still worked..</TD></TR></TABLE>


That's good, but do both filaments in the bulb light up?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 5200BB6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no..i get it...but the bulbs that have been working are the same bulbs that are not working now.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you saying that the tail lights and the brake lights were working - for sure you know they were - and now just your tail lights? What about your 3rd brake light, anything from it?


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 01 LudeDude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If so, or you haven't changed them, then I'd have someone hit the brake for you and test the socket with a volt meter or test-light. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

ok.. i took you guys advise and re-checked the break light bulbs while i had day light...you guys were right <U>ALL</U> 3 break lights were toast.. so i went to my local advance auto..and bought a set. 7443 just like you guys told me to get..i plug them in and i still get nothin..now..i ask does any body know what fuse is tied in with the break lights..because i belive sence i found all three bulbs burnt out then my fuse must have went, causeing all 3 to go with it. only problem is i have no clue which fuse this could be.(its not the tail light fuse cause my tail lights work and the fuse is fine).any body have a 5th gen wiring diagram? that would help me alot. thanks.

 

check your fuse panel it says on their what the brake lights should be.

 

problem solved!!..after buying new bulbs did not fix my problem, i decied i'd take the time to pull out every fuse in both fuse boxes and see if any are bad..and i found that my horn fuse was bad i repalced it and now my break lights work ..thanks to every one that tryed to help me.