# My sons car

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [December 31, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138 "2008-12-31T02:55:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jbickley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e57/32.png) [@jbickley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jbickley)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138/1 "2008-12-31T02:55:23Z")

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my son has a 2002 Saturn and the brake lights don’t work, tail lights are ok. Repair gys want 50-75 dollars to even look at it and give en estimate. can you help on what it might be. thanks

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138/2 "2008-12-31T02:59:25Z")

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A fuse. Burned out bulbs. Brake light switch. In that order.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138/3 "2008-12-31T03:27:19Z")

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I agree. Fuse, bulbs, switch (under the dash, contacts the brake pedal). One of those is likely the problem.

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138/4 "2008-12-31T03:28:51Z")

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Who are the “repair guys”? Dealer? Independent mechanic? If the former, avoid and find an independent. If the latter, find another independent for a second opinion.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138/5 "2008-12-31T12:19:52Z")

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It is an electrical problem that can cost $0.10 in repairs to fix for parts or much more. Giving that type of estimate is reasonable IMHO for electrical work. It could be anywhere but they start at the easiest suspects as posted here and then work back, This type of work can be one hour and many hours.

Your son needs the brake lights and should not drive the car without it. Fix the car at a place you trust.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-sons-car/24138/6 "2008-12-31T13:21:57Z")

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It looks like you are being given a .5 hour check-out rate this is fair.