My brakelights don't work

[RedRooster]

I got an 87 Acura Legend the other day, and found when I got it home that the brake lights don't work. The tail lights work, however when I press the pedal the lights don't come on.
I've checked the fuses, the bulbs, and the brake pedal switch(although without a wiring diagram I'm unsure which wire from the switch runs to the dash warning light).
Would anyone with Honda experience have any ideas what else I could try? Can't really drive it with no brake lights, unless I'm looking for whiplash and a million dollar payout. But I'm not. Yet. 🙂
Thanks for any help.

 

[Jerboy]

<< I got an 87 Acura Legend the other day, and found when I got it home that the brake lights don't work. The tail lights work, however when I press the pedal the lights don't come on.
I've checked the fuses, the bulbs, and the brake pedal switch(although without a wiring diagram I'm unsure which wire from the switch runs to the dash warning light).
Would anyone with Honda experience have any ideas what else I could try? Can't really drive it with no brake lights, unless I'm looking for whiplash and a million dollar payout. But I'm not. Yet. 🙂
Thanks for any help. >>




Get a Chilton manual. Basic electrical system on the car is not that complex other than the fact wires are bundled together and you have no clue what hooks up where. You wouldn't get very far without it.

The manual should tell you connector pin out and such so you can start probing from there.

 

[Lonewolf54]

Why don't you just take it back to where you bought it and have them repair it.

In Canada whenever a vehicle is sold, privately or by a dealer, it is expected to have a road worthiness certificate. If none is obtained the ownership and plate transfer does not take place. This ensures that the vehicle is road worthy and that everything on the vehicle works or meets minimal requirements (I.E. all lights work, at least minimum brake pad/shoe thickness, no exhaust leaks, seatbelts work, windows work, no holes in doors or body, etc). I presume that the same requirement exists in the US.

If a road worthiness certificate is not necessary for them to sell a vehicle you should at least have a 90 day warranty to cover things like this.

I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[RedRooster]

Kinda hoping some kind soul around here has this area of the Honda wiring diagram memorized from a recent experience, or something. 🙂
There's four wires, assuming one comes from the box under the hood, one goes to the dash for the warning light, one goes to the back, and who knows what the other is for. Ideally, I'd spend $50 on the manual, but I need a plan B for the moment.
Nothing is opened around here today, and I'd kind of like to run the car on Monday, if I can somehow get this one little problem figured out.

It was a private sale from a fellow down the street, however we got such a good deal on it, and there's been so much money put into it by him already, I'd hate to have to take it back to him complaining. Nice little guy. I suppose if I can't figure this out, I might have to go talk to him.

Maybe some kind Acura service tech is off work today, and surfing this very forum. 😀

 

[Mean MrMustard]

The same thing happened to my 95 Corolla. Last I checked the bulb and fuse and everything was working then yesterday the one brake light wasn't working. I took it in and they said it was a problem with the circuitry, so now I don't have a car until Monday.

 

[Slacker]

Do you have a high mount third brake light? if so, does it work and the brake lights in the tail light arent working? this happened to me with a car I used to own, it drove me crazy for weeks trying to find the problem, it ended up being the turn signal switch was bad, somehow the brake light wiring was routed throught the turn signal switch.