Hello all!

I have a 2005 Odyssey:

The rear brake lights won't brighten when you hit the brakes, but the 3rd brake light works fine. The bulbs are good but I am not able to figure out which fuse it may be because the manual is unclear.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Jay

Just test all under dash and under hood fuses with a test light or multimeter.

Try your 4 way flashers, walk around vehicle and see what lights, may tell you the bulbs are good? Back to fuses?
Brake switch is working since 3rd brake light works.
If all fuses are good, it may be the signal head, I think they call it something else now, hopefully it will be corrected.

Just to be sure... are you positive the bulbs are good? Just because they light when the tail lights are on doesn't mean they are still good. I have also seen plenty of bulbs that when inspected, they look fine but the filament is broken. So how do you know for sure they are good? Have you replaced them?

Odinn, if they use the 4 way flashers, and they now work, the bulbs and wiring are good up to the signalhead.
The Flasher is a constant Hot Fused circuit and the turn signals many times will be ignition switched circuit and on another fuse. That why the flasher test is important, waiting to hear?

I know... you are right and I wasn't saying otherwise. I just had spent a lot of time in the business and there were countless times when I knew that someone could have saved some money just by simply replacing a bulb on their own. It seems that many people think that if the bulb lights up when the lights are turned on, then the bulb must be good.

Of course your way is a simple way to check...

Odinn please explain your statement

"It seems that many people think that if the bulb lights up when the lights are turned on, then the bulb must be good." Is that not true?

Flashers test all 4 corners worked fine

Just so I am clear, the rear brake lights are the same bulb that lights up when the lights are on, they just brighten when you pres the brake pedal, correct?

Thanks again!

The fuse #13 under the hood is good as well

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmjrdh1

Odinn please explain your statement

"It seems that many people think that if the bulb lights up when the lights are turned on, then the bulb must be good." Is that not true?

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There are 2 filaments inside those bulbs. One filament lights up for the tail lights. The other filament lights up when the brake or flasher is on. I have seen the one filament be bad but the lights still work because they are on the other filament.

If the flashers do work, then it is likely that the bulbs are OK. Maybe it is time to take it somewhere and have them check it for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by odinn7

There are 2 filaments inside those bulbs. One filament lights up for the tail lights. The other filament lights up when the brake or flasher is on. I have seen the one filament be bad but the lights still work because they are on the other filament.

If the flashers do work, then it is likely that the bulbs are ok. Maybe it is time to take it somewhere and have them check it for you.

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It was in fact the bulbs! I never knew that there were double filaments. Changed them both and I'm good to go! Thanks to all for the suggestions and saving me from the stealer I mean dealer.

I was wrong about the flasher test, the reds were not flashing, only the yellows, but I did not realize that I was looking for the reds to be flashing.

Good Deal, The Flashers are the same filiment as the Signals and Brakes. Flasher feed is a different fuse and constantly Hot.