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Old 06-01-2010, 07:24 AM   #1
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2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

The brake lights on my 2004 Sentra 1.8S aren't lighting up when I press on my break pedal. They come on when I turn my head lights on, and both my signals work. Both filaments in both bulbs are fine and so are my fuses...Anyone have any ideas?? I don't like worrying whether a car is going to rear-end me or not!!
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Old 06-01-2010, 10:37 AM   #2
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

You didn't mention the high mount (third) brake light.
Is it working?
Did you check the bulb filaments with an ohmmeter or visually?
If only visually, recheck them with an ohmmeter to ensure that there is continuity.
Brake light filaments are pretty thick and sometimes a break in it is not always visible at first.
If it is good check that you get +12V at the light sockets on the red/green wires when the pedal is depressed.
If you do not get +12V at the socket, check the brake light switch.
It is located under the dash, mounted above the brake pedal.
You should get +12V on the red/green at the switch with the pedal depressed, if not replace switch.
If you do, you have an open in the wiring, in which case, you will have to find it or wire around it.
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Old 06-01-2010, 12:14 PM   #3
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

I had a prob on my 98 Sentra where the brake lights were intermittent; finally tracked it down to the socket for the bulb. The "signal" wire to the center-contact of the bulb was OK, but the ground/return wire for the socket was just crammed in between the plastic holder and the metal bulb socket (not soldered to it). The wire was just stripped bare copper, which sometimes made contact and sometimes didn't. I fixed it by soldering the return wire to the metal socket.
Hope this helps.
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Old 06-01-2010, 04:30 PM   #4
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

It is not likely that it is the ground because the signal and parking lights work.
But if it is the case, with the parking lights on, depressing the brake pedal will cause the parking lights to go out also.
Nothing was mentioned of this but it is an easy check.
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Old 06-01-2010, 07:16 PM   #5
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

Unfortunately the high mount(third)brake isn't working either...and when I have my parking brakes on, they do not go off when the brake is depressed. Interesting thing is, it started a few weeks ago with just the left brake light being out and the right one still working. Now it's the both of them. Could a bad switch cause one light to go out before the other??
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Old 06-01-2010, 11:13 PM   #6
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

a bad switch would not cause 1 to go out first.
as i said before, check the bulbs with an ohmmeter.
and than the sockets with a voltmeter.
this is the only way to be sure without replacing parts blindly.
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Old 06-02-2010, 07:12 AM   #7
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

So I figured out the problem...sort of . I have after market lights in, and when I plugged in the old(stock)set, all my brake lights started working again...including the after market ones. So I guess I possibly reset something, or maybe there's a bad connection within the after market lights themselves? I dunno, but has anyone else heard of something like that??
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Old 06-02-2010, 04:52 PM   #8
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

what kind of aftermarket lights?
and how how were they wired?
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Old 06-03-2010, 09:54 AM   #9
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

I'm not sure of the 2004 brake-lights, but on older Sentra's the cruise control was also affected by problems with the brake lights. Double check to ensure that you've got two-element bulbs in two-element sockets, and single-element bulbs in single-element sockets. If a single-element bulb is stuck in a two-element socket, the cruise control can get the idea that the brakes are on, and shut itself off.
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Old 06-04-2010, 12:50 AM   #10
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

i bet you have the wrong bulbs in the aftermarket harness set. when the headlights are off, you can use cruise, and everything lights up. when you turn the lights on however, cruise wont work. also if one of your brake bulbs are wrong/out, the dash lights up when you hit your brakes, and you hear a clicking noise from the relay box.
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Old 06-05-2010, 01:47 AM   #11
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

Great, they have gone out again...They are altezza tail lights, and they are wired the same as the stock ones, just plug in and go. I know for a fact that I have the right bulbs in the right sockets, but as a matter of fact, my cruise control has been effected. When I turn it on, the "set" light just flashes but won't set. I'm not having electrical problems of any other kind though. Headlights and dash lights are working normally, and there are not clicking noises.
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Old 06-08-2010, 09:30 AM   #12
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Re: 2004 Sentra 1.8S-No brake lights?!?

For brake-light wiring diagram check out pg LT-21 of the FSM at:
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Sentra/2004_Sentra/lt.pdf

great site for FSM; helps if you've got high-speed internet.
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