Raider Brake Light Failure, Causes & Solutions

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2004 Mitsubishi Galant. I have some experience working on cars as a hobby mechanic. When my brake lights stopped working, I initially panicked, but it turned out to be something really simple, I hadn't screwed the bulbs in properly after replacing them myself. Double-checked the connection, gave them a proper twist, and everything worked fine again. Didn't cost me anything since it was just an error on my part! Could you tell me if you've recently replaced your brake light bulbs or done any work around that area? Also, do all brake lights fail at once, or is it just one side? This info would help me give you more specific advice about your Raider. Stay safe!

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! My mileage is at 86508 KM, and no, I haven't done any recent bulb replacements or work in that area. It's actually all brake lights that stopped working at once, which is why I'm thinking it might be more of a signal issue rather than just burned-out bulbs. Had my last service about two months ago, and everything was working fine until yesterday. Really hope it's something as simple as your case, but since all lights went out simultaneously, I'm a bit worried it might be something more complicated. Has anyone else experienced all brake lights failing at once? Thanks!

Hey again! Thanks for providing those details about your Raider. You're right, since all lights went out simultaneously, it's probably not as simple as my loose bulb situation with my Galant. Actually, after your response, I remembered another issue I had with my Galant a couple years back where all brake lights failed at once. Turned out it was the brake light switch near the brake pedal that had gone bad. It's a common failure point in Mitsubishis around that age. The repair was pretty straightforward, the switch cost me about $30, and since I do my own work, I saved on labor. A shop would probably charge around 1-2 hours of labor though. Much better than when I initially thought it might be a more complex wiring issue! Before you head to a mechanic, you might want to check your fuses first, there's usually one specifically for brake lights. That's another common cause for all lights failing at once, and it's the cheapest fix possible. Let me know if you need help locating the brake light fuse box in your Raider. I can dig up my old Mitsubishiual and point you in the right direction!

Thanks so much for the detailed help! You've actually given me a lot of hope that this might be a fairly simple fix. I'll definitely check the fuses first, that would be amazing if it's just that. And if it's not the fuse, at least now I know about the brake light switch possibility. $30 for a part sounds way better than what I was imagining! I'd really appreciate any info about the fuse box location if you can find it. I'm not super car-savvy, but I can definitely handle checking fuses. Will grab some replacements from the auto parts store tomorrow just in case. Really grateful for all the advice! I'll update once I figure out what the problem was.