Comments on: Help me solve the mystery of the brake lights.

Question: Help me solve the mystery of the brake lights.

sol — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:12:57 -0800

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.

By: solipsophistocracy

solipsophistocracy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:20:35 -0800

My 1994 Honda Accord does this.

By: winston

winston — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:26:43 -0800

It is my experience that all cars do this. I can't cite the regulation for you. (And I'm in Canada)

By: krautland

krautland — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:29:27 -0800

my subjective experience from driving all sorts of rental cars is that most cars do this, irregardless of location.

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:30:11 -0800

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.

By: Class Goat

Class Goat — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:30:59 -0800

If the battery is not dead, they will go on. It is indeed a federal regulation, and it's been that way for decades.

By: disaster77

disaster77 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:36:07 -0800

I had a 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity and it did that.

By: hwyengr

hwyengr — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:37:22 -0800

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.

By: LightMayo

LightMayo — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:39:24 -0800

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.

By: Science!

Science! — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:40:45 -0800

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.

By: Loto

Loto — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:49:37 -0800

My 1989 Chevy Celebrity did this.

I miss it so much.

By: patnok

patnok — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:11:03 -0800

yes brake lights work all the time. A fail-safe system so to speak.

By: Dipsomaniac

Dipsomaniac — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:19:03 -0800

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.

By: slogger

slogger — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:19:21 -0800

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

By: Zambrano

Zambrano — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:31:14 -0800

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

The brake lights do not work unless the key is turned.

By: sbutler

sbutler — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:26:50 -0800

Just so happens I have an '89 Chevy Celebrity. And... the brake lights come on, even when the key isn't in the ignition.

By: The Light Fantastic

The Light Fantastic — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:41:25 -0800

Yes! It's a feature.

By: xbonesgt

xbonesgt — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:10:34 -0800

> 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.

By: rocket_johnny

rocket_johnny — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:16:19 -0800

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.

By: owtytrof

owtytrof — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:17:21 -0800

Vehicles with missing or depleted batteries will also not do this. Just sayin'.