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Parking lights work and i have checked all fuses. Driver brake light fails to light when pedal pressed. Let off and parking light goes back on. Only effects driver side. Bulb changed and still same problem

Submitted: 390 days and 11 hours ago.

Category: Car

Value: $9

Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION

2004 Kia Sorento v6

Already Tried:
bulb replaced, checked fuses, passenger side lights are working fine. Parking lights work fine, press pedal the driver side rear light goes out

Accepted Answer

Your problem is a broken ground circuit for the right lamp. Three wires go to the RR lamp, and one of them is a ground wire that connects directly to the body sheetmetal. Since this wire is not fully connected to the bulb somewhere, current runs through the parking light bulb and finds its ground through the brake lamp circuit. When you press the pedal, the circuit opens and the right lamp quits working due to lack of ground for either park or brake. This is called a CROSSFEED due to bad ground. Check the condition of the light bulb socket - bad contact with the bulb causes this and a new socket will fix it, if the ground wire to the body sheetmetal checks out fine. Be absolutely sure that you did not install the bulb backwards.

Accepts:
Expert:	classictech
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	10/27/2008

Auto Service Technician

20 years On-Job experience in troubleshooting drivetrain driveability issues

390 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

Great info...i just double checked all the visible wiring and found no bad(visible) connections. I also realized that the parking light is NOT going off when I press the pedal. Does this indicate another issue
?

Accepted Answer

Hi again,

Voltage that normally would light the RR bulb instead is wasted going through the parking light system. So no, it would not indicate a different issue.

Here's a neat side effect: If the parking lights are off, the brake light voltage normally meant for the RR lamp is wasted across the RR filament and serially through all four parking light bulbs instead of to ground. As a result, all five filaments come on so dimly that they can't be seen.

PS RR meant Right rear, but I mean to say the lamp which is NOT working whichever side - I misread as Passenger lamp not working.

Edited by classictech on 10/27/2008 at 1:49 PM

Accepts:
Expert:	classictech
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	10/27/2008

Auto Service Technician

20 years On-Job experience in troubleshooting drivetrain driveability issues

390 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

so you recommend replacing the socket? is this a repair that should be done in shop? Estimated cost? Dealer repair (not under warranty)? How long should this take if they have part in stock?

Posted by classictech 390 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

Aftermarket sockets are available for most imports but have a parts counterman take a look at the existing socket to be sure that what they have will fit. If it's not a standard socket, a OEM socket obtained from dealer parts will be the only solution, however any qualified shop can wire the new socket in easily - it is not a difficult procedure and not dealer-only. If the socket is the cause, expect to pay no more than $100 for parts and labor

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Parking lights work and i have checked all fuses. Driver brake light fails to light when pedal pressed. Let off and parking light goes back on. Only effects driver side. Bulb changed and still same problem

Optional Information

2004 Kia Sorento v6 Already Tried: bulb replaced, checked fuses, passenger side lights are working fine. Parking lights work fine, press pedal the driver side rear light goes out

Accepted Answer

Reply

Great info...i just double checked all the visible wiring and found no bad(visible) connections. I also realized that the parking light is NOT going off when I press the pedal. Does this indicate another issue?

Accepted Answer

Reply

so you recommend replacing the socket? is this a repair that should be done in shop? Estimated cost? Dealer repair (not under warranty)? How long should this take if they have part in stock?

Answer

Related Car Questions

2004 Kia Sorento v6

Already Tried:
bulb replaced, checked fuses, passenger side lights are working fine. Parking lights work fine, press pedal the driver side rear light goes out

Great info...i just double checked all the visible wiring and found no bad(visible) connections. I also realized that the parking light is NOT going off when I press the pedal. Does this indicate another issue
?