Brake lights go out shortly after appling brakes

There should be Two lamps one for running lights one for brakes and turn signals, sounds like the brake light is burnt out ?

If the brake lights stay on even if the car is turned off (or even if it is on) the first thing I would be checking is the brake pedal switch under the dash. Brake lights are activated when the brake pedal is depressed and comes off the switch or the return spring is broken or stretched not allowing it to fully return when foot is taken off the brake pedal.

sounds like a faulty master cylinder. be careful driving it....
replacement/rebuilt parts are relatively inexpensive.
If you don't know how to bleed brakes, get a mechanic to replace it.

You may have a defective brake switch. The switch is located behind the brake foot pedal. When you apply pressure to the brake foot pedal, the switch should compress.

If the car thinks the brakes are on, then the switch on the brake pedal lever under the dash is bad. But this switch is not the only switch you have. IF your system works like the Ford products I am use to, then another interlock is present to prevent you shifting out of Park without pressing the brakes.

If you are able to shift without your foot on the brake, you are still getting a signal to the second interlock with the trans. This means the brake pedal switch is saying your foot is pressing the pedal. Some cars are in the data base for Autozone.com. If you can register your car for free, most will have free wiring diagrams and fusebox layouts.

You may have a relay for brake lights on a Mercedes. Other cars usually do not because it affects reliability. But a stuck brake relay could keep the light circuit on, if equipped.

A better scanner can do brake functions and all you need to do is plug in the tester to the ABS port and see if the abs is identifying a problem. The cheaper scanners do not have this feature.

A remote possibility is that you have a bad Master cylinder and the pedal is not returning to the full upright position.

I hope my solution is helpful.

Hi,

Without knowing which vehicle you have, you should first try placing your foot of the brake pedal then shifting into PARK. If this still doesn't work, keep your foot on the brake pedal and have an assistant check to see if your brake lights are working - if no brake lights either, then your brake pedal switch is faulty.

If your brake lights are working ok, then there may be a problem with either the gear linkage to the transmission, or possibly the transmission range switch.

Scott


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sounds like you have a short at one of the bulbs when press brake pedal shorts out throws fuse check your wiring at each bulb check for breaks in wire oil residue worn wires use voltmeter best bet

No fuse for the brake lights. It they short out the filament inside the bulb that lights up will blow just like a fuse would. If you replaced a bulb and it blew out you have a short somewhere in that circuit. If the bulb simply doesn't light up you need to adjust the brake lamp switch or replace it. That switch is located by the brake pedal you put your foot on to brake

either the little wire(common) for the swithc has broken off or the switch itslef has broken. It is usually located on the brake pedal arm under the dash. Look at the foot pad of the pedal and follow it up. you should see a little switch with 1 or 2 wires on it. check those by gently tugging or wiggleing them. If they feel like they r connected and dont fall off so to speak the culprit is most likely the switch itself.

Check behind your brake pedal. I don't remember what the parts were called but the same thing happened to me. When you put your foot on the brake there is a plastic or rubber circle attached to the brake pedal that comes in contact with a switch. It causes the brake lights to come on. When you take your foot off the brake it turns the switch off and the brake light goes off. Over time this rubber or plastic circle gets worn and it is still in contact with the switch so it remains on. When this first happened to me I was able to adjust the switch so that the pad came completely away from the switch when I took my foot off the brake. The second time it happened I had to replace the pad on the pedal. I actually made my own because it looked like it was part of the pedal. I also had to replace the switch another time. The switch cost under $20.00 from a parts store.