# Scion IQ 2012, One brake light not working **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** brakes, lights\ **Created:** [October 8, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384 "2015-10-08T21:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![westmor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@westmor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/westmor)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/1 "2015-10-08T21:11:23Z")
The driver’s side brake light on my 2012 Scion IQ is not working. The center and passenger side are working. The bulb is good and the wires at the socket are connected. A internet search show all the brake lights are protected by the same fuse. I have not checked the socket with a volt meter yet because I need someone to press the brake pedal. Has anyonone encountered this problem? As a last resort, is it okay to run a jumper from the passenger side socket to the toher side to power the bulb. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/2 "2015-10-08T21:23:09Z")
> _I have not checked the socket with a volt meter yet because I need someone to press the brake pedal._ I use a broomstick and Vise-grips to do that. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/3 "2015-10-08T23:44:04Z")
Or just turn the 4 way flashers on or turn signal. They should use the same filament. Gotta be wiring, wiring connectors, or socket. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/4 "2015-10-09T03:58:00Z")
Are you sure the bulb is good? Are you sure it’s seated properly in the socket? Have you tried spraying the socket with contact cleaner? Like insightful, I stick a broomstick between the headrest and the brake pedal to keep the lights on while walk back to check. Sliding the seat forward as much as is necessary to press the pedal usually works. The brake light circuits remain “enabled” even when the engine is off, so you do not need to (and should NOT) have the engine running while you do this. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/5 "2015-10-09T05:20:15Z")
If the ground to the chassis isn’t solid for that bulb connector wiring harness, this can be a symptom. I had this happen – believe it or not – at the DMV, prior to a driving test. It was rather embarrassing. The test guy said I couldn’t take the test b/c my car’s brake lights were too dim. A quick inspection inside the trunk showed the ground had popped loose from its moorings. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/6 "2015-10-09T05:43:49Z")
On my Pontiac, the car has to be running for the brake lights to work. I like to check them as the garage door is closing but need to make sure I shut the car off right away or bye bye Bing. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/7 "2015-10-10T03:25:25Z")
> _On my Pontiac, the car has to be running for the brake lights to work._ Car running, or just key in the run position? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/8 "2015-10-10T05:50:07Z")
Yeah, key on will do it. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/scion-iq-2012-one-brake-light-not-working/91384/9 "2015-10-11T03:12:19Z")
OP says the other brake lights work, just not the driver’s side. Unlikely to be key position related.