Kenny G 0 Posted September 10, 2018 Will a burnt out (shorted) third brake light cause the brake light switch to short out ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beta Don 81 Posted September 11, 2018 (edited) Bulbs rarely 'short' when they burn out and if they did, it would blow a fuse A switch (like your brake light switch) *is* a short when you touch the pedal - It shorts the two wires going to the switch and that's what causes the bulb to light Don Edited September 11, 2018 by Beta Don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don Ridley 61 Posted September 11, 2018 Probably not.... But we need to know more details. Year of vehicle, symptoms etc. Most switching is done by modules and they are designed to handle shorts without affecting other systems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zalienz 17 Posted September 11, 2018 Bulbs don't short when they blow, they create the opposite, an open circuit. For DC current to flow, you need a complete circuit - 12V power, a load (bulb) and and a ground. A blown bulb will not short out a brake light switch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny G 0 Posted September 11, 2018 This is what happen 2010 TC I was driving and I smelled an electrical burning smell, when I got home I couldn’t get the van out of park/ no brake lights. so I got it out of park and took it to my repair shop. They replaced the brake light switch and the fuse. yesterday I noticed that my high mounted brake light was black and not working. im wondering if the brake light switch was fine and it was just a blown fuse from the light blowing out? the burning smell is still there but not nearly as strong and it’s coming from the area around the third brake light. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G B L 166 Posted September 12, 2018 You need to look at the third brake light socket sounds like a problem with that socket and that could short out causing the fuse and the switch to fail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
