Are brake and tail light one and the same?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Michael Rosen - 30 Dec 2007 00:46 GMT

I opened up the tail assembly of my 2002 JGC Laredo to change the
brake light bulb and it appears there is actually one bulb for both
the brake and tail light? My tail lights go on with the headlights
but when the lights are off the left brake light does not light.
Sounds like an electrical issue? I've seen a few posts seeming to
indicate that in some searches I've done.

Thanks,
Mike

Reply to this Message

Socks - 30 Dec 2007 01:26 GMT

Look at the bottom of the bulb!
You will see two round "Greyish"dots on the base...
There are two filliments in the bulb, one for the brake lamp and one
for the tail lamp!
If one or the other is burnt out then replace the comlpete light bulb
unit.

>I opened up the tail assembly of my 2002 JGC Laredo to change the
>brake light bulb and it appears there is actually one bulb for both
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Thanks,
>Mike

Reply to this Message

Michael Rosen - 30 Dec 2007 03:41 GMT

Thanks! I'll check it out in the morning.

I looked up the bulb (http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?
MfrCode=SYL&MfrPartNumber=3157LL) and it does look like it's a double
filament (after double checking at Sylvania's site). Why would the
other lights (signal and reverse) use the same bulb? Or do they
utilize both filaments for a brighter light?

Thanks.

> Look at the bottom of the bulb!
> You will see two round "Greyish"dots on the base...
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> >Thanks,
> >Mike

Reply to this Message

DougW - 30 Dec 2007 07:33 GMT

> Thanks! I'll check it out in the morning.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> other lights (signal and reverse) use the same bulb? Or do they
> utilize both filaments for a brighter light?

Reverse should be it's own bulb in all systems.
Brake and turn signal share the same bulb in U.S. and Canadian systems
EU systems use a seperate brake and turn bulb.

Parking lamps vary among vendor, but as far as I've seen are also
seperate from brake, turn, and backup.

Signature

DougW

Reply to this Message

Michael Rosen - 30 Dec 2007 16:28 GMT

On Dec 30, 2:33 am, "DougW" <I.only.read.use...@invalid.address>
wrote:

> Reverse should be it's own bulb in all systems.
> Brake and turn signal share the same bulb in U.S. and Canadian systems
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> --
> DougW

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I meant the same bulb *type*.

Reply to this Message

DougW - 30 Dec 2007 01:46 GMT

> I opened up the tail assembly of my 2002 JGC Laredo to change the
> brake light bulb and it appears there is actually one bulb for both
> the brake and tail light? My tail lights go on with the headlights
> but when the lights are off the left brake light does not light.
> Sounds like an electrical issue? I've seen a few posts seeming to
> indicate that in some searches I've done.

If it's a dual contact bulb then one of the filiments could be broken
or the contacts worn.

http://www.revbeergoggles.com/blub/

Signature

DougW

Reply to this Message