Fixing Brake Lights

To begin fixing your brake lights, you are going to need to gather together a few simple items that you should have around the house or garage. If you don't have some of these items, don't worry since you can pick them up at your local automotive or department store. Just be sure that you use a different vehicle than the project car—we wouldn't want you to get a ticket.

• Soft cleaning cloths
• Soft rags
• Automotive light bulbs
• Complete screw driver set.

Once you have all the stuff listed above, you are ready to begin. For safety reasons, you should work in an area that is free of water, and that has adequate lighting. It is fine to work outside, as long as it is not raining. You are going to be working with (albeit in an indirect way) electricity, and it is better to be safe than sorry.

1. Remove cover. The first thing that you are going to have to do is figure out how to access the light bulb for the brake light. This means you should take a look at the covering of the rear light assembly. If you can see any screws holding it on then you simply remove the cover and proceed to the next step. Be sure that you set aside all the parts to the assembly in one location so that you don't lose anything. In the event that you don't see any screws on the outside, look inside your trunk for a plastic cover in the area of where the lights are at. This cover may held in by tabs, knobs or screws.
2. Remove bulb. Once you have access to where the bulbs held within the light assembly, unscrew the proper light bulb. Since this is the brake light you are going to want to remove the light bulb that is behind the red plastic. To remove the light bulb you may need to push in and turn at the same time.
3. Clean and replace. Using the soft rags first, followed by your soft cleaning cloths, clean the connection socket. After you have cleaned the socket itself, clean the area immediately around the socket as well. This helps to ensure that there is a proper "brightness for your brake light. After cleaning, simply replace the light bulb.
4. Replace cover. Now, doing the reverse of the first step, you replace the cover of the light assembly.
5. Test. The time has now come to test your work. Start the vehicle up, and have a friend stand behind the vehicle. Step on your brake a few times to makes sure it lights up. You are finished.