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Honda Accord Brake Lights Won’t Turn On

If you have a Honda Accord and are having trouble with your brake lights, you are likely eager to solve the problem quickly. Dealing with car problems can be quite an inconvenience. So, what do you do if your Honda Accord Brake lights won’t turn on?

One common reason for the brake lights not turning on in a Honda Accord is a faulty brake light switch. This switch is triggered when the brake pedal is depressed, activating the brake lights. If it fails, the lights won’t turn on. The solution is to replace the brake light switch, which is usually located near the top of the brake pedal.

Another possible cause of brake light failure in a Honda Accord is a problem with the wiring. Over time, the wires connected to the brake lights can become frayed or disconnected, leading to a loss of power to the lights.

Inspecting and repairing or replacing any damaged wires can solve this issue, restoring the function of the brake lights.

Silver car driving through city

Read on to learn what you need to do if your Honda Accord brake lights will not turn on, as well as steps you can take for other brake light problems. It is important that you take the time to get as much information as you can before diving into a DIY project.

Honda Accord Brake Lights Won’t Turn On

Male with question marks above his head

If you notice that your Honda Accord brake lights will not turn on, you need to quickly find the problem’s source. Refraining from fixing something like this can be a risk to yourself and other divers. Faulty brake lights can get you into trouble both with the law and in the case of a car accident:

  • It is illegal to drive a car without brake lights
  • Risks to yourself and other drivers not knowing to slow down when you are braking

Brake Light Fuse

The first thing you should do if you see that your Honda Accord brake lights will not turn on is to check your brake light fuse. Oftentimes, a brake light problem can be as easy of a fix as replacing a blown fuse. Check your Honda Accord manual to find the location of the fuse box in your car.

The fuse for your brake lights is easy to find. In the fuse box of your Honda Accord, it will say either stop lamp or stop. When you pull out the fuse for your brake lights, you should inspect the fuse to see if it is broken or damaged. If there are no clear signs that your fuse is blown, it still may be the source of your problem.

Of course, if you do not have a lot of experience working with cars, it is a good idea to call a professional technician to check out the problem.

Brake Light Switch

If you replace your fuse, but your brake lights still will not turn on, your brake light switch may be the problem. Even if your Honda Accord is turned off, there should always be power running through your brake light switch if it is intact. You can figure out if the wires to your brake light switch are live or not with a test light.

Without using a test light, you can still accurately predict the function of your brake light switch to some extent. If you are 100% certain that your brake light fuse is fully functional, you can test the switch by pushing on your brakes and seeing if your brake lights light up. If they do not, this is a fairly telling sign that there is a problem with your brake light switch.

Different Wiring Issues

If you do not find a solution with either of the methods above, there might be a problem specifically with the wires running from the brake light switch to the actual lights. If you notice any fraying or other damage to the wires, you should look to see if it is minor, easily repairable damage, or something for which you need to call a professional.

With a problem specific to wiring, you must understand the risk of working on potentially live wires. If you have little to no experience in this field, we strongly recommend that you call a professional. There is no reason to put yourself in danger for a comparatively minor inconvenience.

Honda Accord Brake Light Stays On Or Is Stuck

Confused male with hand on his chin

Another problem you might run into with your Honda Accord is that, instead of not turning on, your brake lights stay on or will not turn off. This can be just as big of a risk while driving on the road, so you will want to look into it. Brake lights that will not turn off can pose several threats:

  • Confusion or distractions to other drivers
  • Wearing out the lifespan of your brake lightbulbs

Brake Light Switch

In addition to causing your Honda Accord brake lights not to work, a problem with the brake light switch can also cause your brake lights to stay on. If your brake light switch becomes worn down over time, it might not switch off even when the brake pedal is not pushed against it.

Replacing a brake light switch on your Honda Accord is easy, and since this is most likely the source of your brake light staying on, it should not be too stressful of a situation. However, if your brake light switch is in good condition, there could be other things causing the problem.

Brake Pedal

Particularly in older cars that have been used regularly, it is not uncommon for the brake pedal to loosen over time. The constant pushing down and releasing of the brake pedal can wear it down and cause it to stay closer to the floor when it is not being used. As a result, your brake light switch might be tricked into thinking you are trying to brake, thus staying on and not ever turning off.

If you notice that your brake lights will not turn off and your brake pedal seems looser than it typically is, you should look into the brake pedal being the source of this problem. Luckily, tightening a brake pedal is not extremely difficult, so it can oftentimes be resolved quickly.

Different Wiring Issues

Sometimes, the wires connecting your brake light switch to your pedal can become damaged or have a short in them, which can cause your brake lights to stay on. Though this is a rarity, it is worth checking out if you cannot solve the problem in one of the ways listed above.

The copyright owner of this article is Knowmyauto.com and was first published on Jun 14, 2021..

As said earlier, you might want to consider contacting a professional to deal with a wiring issue. It can be extremely dangerous to work with exposed or damaged wires, especially if you have no experience with them.

Honda Accord Brake Lamp Flashing

Female biting on her nails

A less common but equally pressing matter you might run into is that the brake lamp on your Honda Accord’s dashboard is flashing. This problem can be best identified by a professional, but it is not a difficult fix if you know your way around a car.

Brake Fluid

If your Honda Accord brake lamp is flashing, it might be your car’s way of telling you that your brake fluid is low. Your brake lights will work until the brake fluid is bone-dry, but it is a good idea to keep your fluid as full as you can.

Damaged Brakes

If your brake fluid is full, there might be a problem with the brakes themselves. Having a technician check them out is going to be your best bet. Brakes worn down or damaged by other causes will likely make your warning brake lamp flash on your dashboard.

Brake Lightbulbs

Another common cause for a flashing brake lamp on your Honda Accord’s dashboard could be brake lightbulbs that need to be replaced. If your lightbulbs are running low, this is probably the easiest DIY fix you can do on your Honda Accord. Just make sure that you purchase the correct bulbs specific to your Honda Accord’s production year.

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KnowMyAuto is the sole owner of this article was published on Jun 14, 2021 and last updated on .