My 1994 Corolla DX (AE92?) just failed state inspection because all three brake lights were not working. All other exterior lights, reverse and directionals work. I checked the 15A fuse under the dashboard for "STOP" and checked the 15A fuse for "REAR" lights, both still good. I think it isn't a fuse problem.
I also dismantled the high third brake light and the driver-side rear light cluster. All bulbs seem to be in good shape. Anyone have this problem? I checked the wiring diagram in my Haynes service manual and see that in addition to the three brake lights there is also a "To Shift Lock ECU" so I tested the Overdrive light on the shifter but the light still worked on the instrument panel. Maybe it has nothing to do with the O/D indicator?
This seems to me like easy fix but the shop wanted $120 an hour to diagnose the problem. If it isn't the fuses or the bulbs, could it be the wiring? And just the brake lights? Am I not looking at the problem the right way? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
It seems odd to me that all of the brake lights would be inoperable after bringing the car to the service station for a state inspection. The garage owner seemed to be pushing for my authorization to diagnose the brake light problem at $120 an hour!
Is there anything he could have done to disable the lights from working? He's a shady character but I went there out of convenience. I wonder if there was any malfeasance.
Hmm... I dunno what the problem is if the bulbs seem fine and the fuses are too. However, the shift lock has nothing to do with O/D. The shift lock is so you can't shift out of park without your foot on the brake. Listen for a click when you step on the brake pedal in park. That's the shift lock de-activating.
However, if you can drive the car chances are the shift lock is working properly and I really don't know what the problem is.
See if any fuses are missing. Maybe he pulled a fuse on you, but I doubt that is the case since that's definitely a law suit right there. If you do get it checked out, make sure you take the car to another mechanic, and if evidence of tampering is found make sure they let you know.
Does the Haynes manual say nothing about trouble shooting this problem?
P.S. Your Corolla is AE102, the previous gen was AE92.
On the '90 Corolla with AT, if the fuse to the brake lights burns out then the "shift lock" computer stops working and you have to press little button near the shift stick to unlock it.
If can determine which wire to a light is supposed to be "ground" it's worth grounding it directly to the frame to see if that part of the circuit is bad. But if you can't measure any voltage on the hot wire to the bulb and the frame when the brake pedal is depressed then it looks like you have to look at the brake switch. Anyone know where that is in the AE102?
Ukrainian and Toshiro, thanks for your advice. I'm also thinking it may be the brake light switch. The only other possibility that I can think of is a corroded wire somewhere, but that seems unlikely.
Funny how nobody honked, flashed lights, or cursed at me for driving around with absolutely no brake indicators. Hmm, maybe it's because there was nothing wrong the brake lights until the mechanic decided that the state inspection fee was not gonna make his day. What the hell can I do? Nothing but fix it myself and swallow the additional cost of reinspecting my car. I can't prove a damn thing and he knows it. Uggh. Freakin' crooks. This same garage charged a family member $700+ for a power window job on a Corolla (I think regulators/motor combos list on the internet for around $150!).
If it isn't the brake light switch, I'll need some more advice.
Ukrainian and Toshiro, thanks for your advice. I'm also thinking it may be the brake light switch. The only other possibility that I can think of is a corroded wire somewhere, but that seems unlikely.
Funny how nobody honked, flashed lights, or cursed at me for driving around with absolutely no brake indicators. Hmm, maybe it's because there was nothing wrong the brake lights until the mechanic decided that the state inspection fee was not gonna make his day. What the hell can I do? Nothing but fix it myself and swallow the additional cost of reinspecting my car. I can't prove a damn thing and he knows it. Uggh. Freakin' crooks. This same garage charged a family member $700+ for a power window job on a Corolla (I think regulators/motor combos list on the internet for around $150!).
If it isn't the brake light switch, I'll need some more advice.
I'm voting for the brake light switch on the brake pedal also...
OK... I can't locate the brake light switch. Frustrated, I gave in and drove very carefully to the Toyota dealer to have them diagnose and fix it, but the earliest they could take in my car was a week from today. Uggh. So I worked on my other car today (lesson learned: baby your nice car too much, and it'll act up and refuse your commands - show some hard, tough love and it'll get back in line).
Am I blind? The Haynes manual has the switch attached to the top front face of the brake pedal arm. No such piece. First of all, do I need to remove the lower dash? The service manual says nothin' more than adjusting and replacing the switch. Visibility of the top half of the brake pedal arm is poor but I don't think I could have missed it. Or maybe I did.
Does anyone have any advice from any other service manuals out there? I have a Bentley for my other car, and it's like a freakin' encyclopaedia. Haynes is adequate, but I'm still stuck with no brake lights. I'd love to fix it myself in the time I have before my dealership appointment and save $100 or so.
I got a 1994 Geo Prizm. Since geos are identical twins of corollas I will give this a shot. My geo has the same problem described above. The tail light turn signal everything works, but when the brake pedal is pushed no lights come on. I bought a new brake light switch and just connected it to the harness to see if the lights would work. No go. I checked all the fused at the driver side kick penal and all seemed ok - I don't have the cover so I dont know which fuse is for what.
I also checked the bulbs and they seemed fine. I unplugged the stop light switch to see if any power is coming, nothing there. So problem might be either in the fuse or in wiring before it gets to the brake pedal. Can anybody please share the wiring diagram for your 1994-1996 corolla kick panel fuse box? Also if you have any suggestions please let me know. My haynes manual hasnt arrived yet which is why I have no manual to refer to.
Check for all earth plugs arond the rear lights ..make sure ther free of corrosion and dirt..
when i say plugs i mean the ring things that go to the body
i had a sim prob in my ae95 wagon...same shi* different bucket
it was an earth issue!!!!!!!!!in the tail light it self...
if ya got a multi meter it'll help heaps...cant remember exactly what the auto elec did as it was a while a go but if i can remember i'll let ya know
First thing first check the break light switch..its on the break pedal swing arm..well its bolted to the body but its bout 3/4 up the arm.....
new edit..i think it was the acual plug on the tail lights it self that had the prob?
Check for all earth plugs arond the rear lights ..make sure ther free of corrosion and dirt..
when i say plugs i mean the ring things that go to the body
i had a sim prob in my ae95 wagon...same shi* different bucket
it was an earth issue!!!!!!!!!in the tail light it self...
if ya got a multi meter it'll help heaps...cant remember exactly what the auto elec did as it was a while a go but if i can remember i'll let ya know
First thing first check the break light switch..its on the break pedal swing arm..well its bolted to the body but its bout 3/4 up the arm.....
new edit..i think it was the acual plug on the tail lights it self that had the prob?
I got a new brake light switch. I connected it but no lights still. So I used my multimeter to check for power on the bracket which connects to the brake light switch, no power. Must be either the fuse or some wiring thats screwed before it gets to the brake light switch. That makes it even harder to trace now.
i thought the switch was an earth?
Tape the swicth on and check the positive at the back?
if ya got a battery 6-12 volts fine plug it into the rear stops and see what hapens?
plug it into the loom conect at the back that'll eliminate the globes and holders!
hey
did you had lights in the dash ?
'cause i have no light in the dash and the rear running lights dosent work.
the reverse, brake, flasher lights works but not the last ones.
im getting sick off people flashing in the rear cuz i have no lights on night!
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'93 AE102 LE 1.8 5spd
'77 TE31 Deluxe 2TC 3spd Auto
hey
did you had lights in the dash ?
'cause i have no light in the dash and the rear running lights dosent work.
the reverse, brake, flasher lights works but not the last ones.
im getting sick off people flashing in the rear cuz i have no lights on night!
I actually don't have lights in the speedometer area. So I use a ghetto external light powered from the cigerrate lighter.
I did however get the brake issue fix. It turns out, the lights were working after I replaced the blown fuses. I just didn't have a good way of varifying that they were working as I was playing with it during the day.
everything was working fine until i removed the speedomter to test fit glow gauges.
they never worked after that. seems like all the fuses are alright. (none of them are visually burned)
i removed the factory spoiler, i dunno if it could be a reason of a not working rear light !?
need help
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'93 AE102 LE 1.8 5spd
'77 TE31 Deluxe 2TC 3spd Auto
everything was working fine until i removed the speedomter to test fit glow gauges.
they never worked after that. seems like all the fuses are alright. (none of them are visually burned)
i removed the factory spoiler, i dunno if it could be a reason of a not working rear light !?
need help
I drive a 1994 Geo. The dashboard light not working in 94 prizm apparently is a known problem. There was some problem in the printed circuit board which cause it to not work.
Did you check the brake light switch? May be thats bad. Taking the spoiler out may be a reason too. May be the spoiler needs to be in place to complete a circuit. Also check to make sure all the earthing of wires near the tail light area are fine.
Some of the guys here are very experienced. I am hoping one of them will give you some usefull advice. most of what I am writing are just pure speculation.
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Brake Lights
So I used my multimeter to check for power on the bracket which connects to the brake light switch, no power. Must be either the fuse or some wiring thats screwed before it gets to the brake light switch. 
That makes it even harder to trace now.
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