How to Replace Brake Light

Since days you have been avoiding fixing your brake light. It is broken or perhaps the bulb is not working properly, and before the cops can give you a ticket for that, you want to get it fixed. Unless you have someone that can repair it for you, the cost to replace brake lights can be high. Instead of spending money and your valuable time on finding a garage close to your home that will replace it for you, take it up on yourself and learn how to replace brake light with the help of this article. Learning the correct steps is like knowing how to replace a light bulb in your house. It's a simple maintenance work, that will aid you in avoiding the hassle of receiving a ticket for a missing brake light.

Replace the Light Switch

First you will have to shop for a new light before replacing brake light. Depending on your car's make, model, and year, you will find the correct brake light at your local auto parts shop. Check around for prices and see where you can get a reasonable bargain. Before we begin, you'll need:

• Rubber gloves
• New light bulb(s)
• Red tape
• Screwdriver set
• Cleaning Cloths
• A friend

Step #1: First, you need to check how the brake light bulb can be accessed easily. The lens over the light (the red and white plastic part) will have to be loosened from the outside (or maybe your car model has the light accessible from the inside). If you can't find any screws over the lens, then the brake light has to be replaced from the inside. There might be a plastic cover over the bulb that needs to be removed, so that you can easily replace the brake light.

Step #2: If you'll be replacing brake lights from the outside, loosen the lens first. Take off the plastic cover that is on top of the light and expose the bulb.

Step #3: Loosen the bulb with a screwdriver. You might have to push in the bulb and then turn it around at the same time. If you don't know which would be the right bulb for your car, take the bulb that you just took out to any auto supply store. They will help you find the right brake bulb for you.

Step #4: Take some cleaning cloths and wipe near the connection of the bulb. Be aware that you don't apply too much pressure, as that area is very delicate.

Step #5: Place the new bulb in the empty connection (socket) and push it in gently. Simultaneously, turn the bulb around and screw it in properly. You will need to line up the tiny lifted bumps which are on the base of the new bulb, so that it will fit entirely.

Step #6: Replace the plastic cover back on the new brake light.

Step #7: Now if you were wondering why you needed a friend, then step #7 is the answer. Once the new brake light is replaced, you would want to test it to see if it works properly. You get inside your car and step on the brakes and turn the headlights on; who will tell you if your brake light works? That's when the friend steps into aid you. You look in the rear-view mirror and he will give you a thumbs-up sign if the light works.

Apart from the information we gave you in this article, you can also read another article on Buzzle on replacing headlight switch. This was a step-by-step, simple solution on replacing a brake light. The materials needed to replace brake light included a red tape. The red tap is a temporary fix for a broken brake light. So, if you are driving your car with a broken brake light with a red tape on it, you will only get a "fix-it" ticket. This will give you sometime to replace the brake light and still get out of getting a huge fine. Once you replace the brake light, go to the police station and prove it that you have fixed the light. All you have to do is pay the processing fee ($10 - $15) and your citation is gone. Although, I do advice you to replace brake light and fix it immediately.