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Hello my name is ryan and I recently purchased a 1999 Honda Civic ex 2 door coupe. I’m haveproblems with my brake lights not lighting up/getting brighter when I apply the brake. When I hit the brake nothing happens it doesn’t get brighter or anything. I’ve checked all the fuses, relays, etc. I replaced both bulbs. I also replace the brake light switch just to be sure and still nothing. I’ve heard there is a connector behind the left side panel in the back seat that is known to short out or cause problems. Does anyone recommend anything else before I start this year down?
Re: 1999 civic ex brake lights not getting brighter
Originally Posted by mk378
The brake light fuse is under the hood. The horn is on the same circuit. Does the horn work?
Check that there is power to the brake light switch. One wire should be live all the time and the other one goes live when the pedal is pressed.
If the lights are on the moving part of the trunk lid, it is common for the wire to break where it flexes every time the trunk is opened.
My horn works and the fuse is good. My brake light are not on the movie part of the trunk lid. IF I’m correct I beleive the brake lights are the same as the taillights and they’re just supposed to get brighter. The bulbs are two prong bulbs one for low one for high. The problem is they never brighten up or light up like I’m braking. When I shut the car off they turn off but when I turn my lights on they are always on. I readjusted the brake switch multiple times to see if anything changes and nothing changed.
Re: 1999 civic ex brake lights not getting brighter
replace the bulbs. IIRC, they are 1157, dual filament...which means one is for the "parking lights" and the other is for "braking". It looks similar to a 1156 but on the bottom screw shell, it has 2 tabs...and of course you can see the 2 wire filaments inside the glass.
Re: 1999 civic ex brake lights not getting brighter
With brake pedal pressed, the larger bright filament should come on. With the light switch on, the smaller dim filament should be on. With both, both filaments should be on.
Do all three of these tests and report back. Also, does the center brake light work?
1999 civic ex brake lights not getting brighter
