Help me solve the mystery of the brake lights.

September 10, 2008 6:12 PM

You are seated in a Cheverolet Celebrity, model year anywhere between 1982-1990. The engine is off, the key is not even in the ignition. You step on the brake pedal. Do the brake lights go on? Do the brake lights always go on when the pedal is pressed, no matter what? No matter what make, model, year of car?

Bonus: is there some kind of federal regulation or standard such that all US cars, sold in 1982-1990, must have brake lights that illuminate whenever the pedal is pressed, no matter if the car is running, or not? Citation helpful.

posted by sol to travel & transportation (19 comments total)

My 1994 Honda Accord does this.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 6:20 PM on September 10

It is my experience that all cars do this. I can't cite the regulation for you. (And I'm in Canada)
posted by winston at 6:26 PM on September 10

my subjective experience from driving all sorts of rental cars is that most cars do this, irregardless of location.
posted by krautland at 6:29 PM on September 10

My 93 Holden does this. I don't know if it is a regulation (and I'm not in the US), but if my car stops working while I'm on the road, I'll still want the brake lights to work.
posted by pompomtom at 6:30 PM on September 10

If the battery is not dead, they will go on. It is indeed a federal regulation, and it's been that way for decades.
posted by Class Goat at 6:30 PM on September 10

I had a 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity and it did that.
posted by disaster77 at 6:36 PM on September 10

FMVSS 108 (49CFR571.108) S5.5.4: "The stop lamps on each vehicle shall be activated upon application of the service brakes."

Pressing the pedal with the key off is still activating the brakes, so I don't think the ignition position matters to the requirements. A quick read of the section didn't turn up any specific mentions of ignition, though.
posted by hwyengr at 6:37 PM on September 10

My first car was a 1985 Chevy Celebrity and it did this. I can't point you to a specific regulation, just my anecdotal evidence.
posted by LightMayo at 6:39 PM on September 10

Yeah, I killed the (already old) battery in my mid 90's American made SUV by sleeping in the cab with my foot pressed on the brake all night. So yes, the light does turn on. It also makes for an awkward morning in a city you don't know.
posted by Science! at 6:40 PM on September 10

My 1989 Chevy Celebrity did this.

I miss it so much.
posted by Loto at 6:49 PM on September 10

yes brake lights work all the time. A fail-safe system so to speak.
posted by patnok at 7:11 PM on September 10

Brake lights always go on when the pedal is pressed. It only makes sense - it wouldn't be too useful to have them stop working for any particular reason, such as ignition fault or alternator death, and it's much safer if they do work as much as possible.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 8:19 PM on September 10

Indeed, you would need the hazard lights to work when the car is not running--same lamps as the breaks.
posted by slogger at 8:19 PM on September 10

An older Fiat. Like a Panda or a 124. No.

The brake lights do not work unless the key is turned.
posted by Zambrano at 8:31 PM on September 10

Just so happens I have an '89 Chevy Celebrity. And... the brake lights come on, even when the key isn't in the ignition.
posted by sbutler at 9:26 PM on September 10 [1 favorite]

Yes! It's a feature.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 1:41 AM on September 11

> Indeed, you would need the hazard lights to work when the car is not running--same lamps as the breaks.

really? I thought turning on your hazard lights made your blinkers flash in unison, not your brake lights (at least that's how I think it's been on both of the cars I've owned). Though I know blinkers don't work without the key in the ignition, and brake lights most certainly do, so it's possible I have no idea what I'm talking about.
posted by xbonesgt at 8:10 AM on September 11

I would check the standards that went into effect in 1967.

That is when the NTSB standardized things like a certain headlamp (must be vertical)...and started requiring headrests and hazard lights and backup lights.

My 1962 doesn't light the brakes unless the key is in the ignition and clicked to on. It doesn't have backup lights or any of that stuff either though.
posted by rocket_johnny at 8:16 AM on September 11

Vehicles with missing or depleted batteries will also not do this. Just sayin'.
posted by owtytrof at 9:17 AM on September 11