Hi, I have a civic and have several strange problems, can anyone help!? when I press the brake, the side lights and also the dashboard lights come on. Also when I turn the head lights on at night the brake light comes on... can anyone offer a suggestion as to what I can try? Thanks S

 

I would remove, disconnect and clean every electric plugs, fuses and relays associated with troubled circuits, using contact cleaner and/or compressed air. Make sure to use eye and ear protection.

 

That happens because the brake light bulbs have lost their ground. It's either corrosion of the bulb socket, or a problem with the ground wire in the trunk. The outer shells of the bulbs need to stay near zero volts with respect to ground with the brake pressed. If the power from the brake light circuit can't get to ground, it feeds back through the other filament in the bulb and lights up the parking/running lights.

 

Hi, thanks for your comment. Can you tell me where the ground wire is in the trunk of my civic and I'll check it out.

If its corrosion of the socket do the sockets just need replaced?

Thanks again