Brake lights keep blowing

[Bl4d3]

Hey all

I have a major problem with my tail lights.
The break light bulbs keep blowing.

I have an audio system installed which does cause vibrations.

I have tried incandescent and LED. The contacts look clean, connections look good, bulbs work fine for 1 - 2 weeks then 1 bulb blows then the other a week later.

I have no idea what else to do.

Any suggestions?

 

[TitanBlue]

I would remove the socket assembly and also check the voltage going to the pins. They should be so cheap, I would go ahead and replace them proactively. You may not see the issue.

Check that all wiring to the plugs is solid, so no arcing is occurring. Fairly unusual to have repeated blown bulbs if contacts are good and no additional heat source has been introduced. You're not blowing a fuse correct? It is only the bulbs failing? Check as far as you can on the harness for damage. but buy the sockets right away.

 

[TitanBlue]

Has anything been done with the sound system, just prior to the brake light failures?

 

[Bl4d3]

Some how managed to solve this issue by replacing my audio systems power cables with a thicker gauge

 

[Ksull72487]

Some how managed to solve this issue by replacing my audio systems power cables with a thicker gauge

You probably had a bad connection somewhere. Always go bigger gauge if you can. Cars are finicky when it comes to electrical. I’d also do the big 4 upgrade from ZZP if you haven’t done it. $40 bucks and it’s useful stock but almost a must on a car with a system. I burned an alternator and a ton of fuses with a sound system 15+ years ago once. Mechanics spent days scratching their heads then figured it out. You put load on a system you want to try to support that load.

Old days cars ran at 14 ish voltes running 12 off. Today the Sonic and many cars only run at 14 volts when it needs too. I had a scan gauge hooked up long enough to know lol. Smart charging. Means more going on. Back in day a compressor turning on and off was a sign of overfilling on refrigerant. Today it’s done to maintain gas mileage and only engage when it needs too. Your electrical system dose something similar.

New age. It’s all computerized and electrical.