The tail light notification light on the dash is on. It does not come on once the car is initially started. It only comes on when the brake is applied. then it stays on until the car is shutoff again. the process repeats itself again once re-started. I have replaced both taillight bulbs, brake bulbs. this does not seem to work. any ideas on what could be causing this? This proves to be extreamly frustrating as I have tried everything the manual says to.???


any information would be greatly appreciated

 

I would check the rear top center brake light. Have some one step on your brakes and see if it lights up.

 

all 3 rear stop feature taillights work. Already checked that. Any other ideas?

 

Typically it is one or more brake light filament gone bad or about to go out [abnormal current is sensed]. Just make sure the bulbs you replaced are the right wattage (preferably OEM). Since you already replaced two, go for the gold and replace the third as well.

Other things you may like to check would be axillary brake (foot brake) is fully released and the brake fluid level is between min and max.

Salim

 

My center brake light burned out a couple of weeks ago and I got the dash warning. I replaced the bulb and got a false reading on the dash a couple of times since then. I used an OEM bulb. Seems to have settled down now. The trim just snaps straight in, easy enough to swap the bulb.

 

I have experienced this too, sometimes the filament is broken and bounces back to give light, and then opens later...Replace the center lamp and it will probably be fixed....

 

Salimshah has the best answer, IMHO. I've experienced this very thing, multiple times. A lamp is about to go out...which causes the sensor to detect abnormal current. Problem is, it can take a year or so for the bulb to actually fail completely.

You have two choices: You can ignore the yellow warning light on the dash until the suspect bulb actually fails. Or you can replace all of the break lights in one fell swoop. I've always opted for the second option, as it's faster and safer.

 

Ok sounds good, I will replace the upper stop taillight in the rear. I had no idea a bulb about to go bad would cause this.

I will let you know.

 

True Story!!

Warning light has come on before so I replaced the bulbs. Came back on two months ago but the lower tail lights work. Same story...warning light was out when I started the engine and only came on after I stepped on the brake. Checked all three and all were working. Read this thread two days ago and had planned to replace the upper tail light, under the spoiler. Checked it last night...all bulbs work and the warning light hasn't come back on since yesterday afternoon. Seems just reading the thread did the trick...

 

What the heck, I'll give it a try.
I'm gonna go read a thread about a oil change.

 

replaced the final upper brake light this afternoon. light still on!!! this is making me go crazy. Now all three brake lights have been replaced!! I used sylvannia bulbs from autozone. Any suggestions on where to look next?

Very frustrated....

 

Maybe the wiring harness in the hatch is breaking intermittantly, have not heard of anyone having this happen. But there is always a first...

 

Manufacturer should not be an issue [Phillips or GE or Sylvania] most important is they must add to the right total wattage for all brake lamps as stated in the manual.

If they are then you need to trace the other stuff as trailer hitch and wiring.

Salim

 

Welcome to the world of electrical frustration.
Take solace in the fact it's not a BMW.
Mine is lit up like a Christmas tree, I look forward to the Holidays.

 

It just occurred to me, that we never discussed the "good behavior".

There was a time when there was no warning light. .. [for sure when it was new)

Was any thing done that might have caused the lamp to turn on?

trailer wiring, moisture in the lamp etc.

Salim