I just got a ticket last night because my tail-lights don't turn on with the headlight light switch (when the headlights are ON). When I step on the brake pedal, the tail-lights work like normal with and w/o the headlight switch on/off.

The light bulbs and the fuses all look fine...

Any ideas on what I should check ?

 

May wanna try swapping headlight switches. Do the parking lights work?

 

everything works, that is why I am stumped.

I went as far as opening the hatch and taking out the spare tire and looking over the wires, but they look fine. This is nuts.

 

So when you turn your light switch one notch forward the parking lights come on???

But not the tail lights?

or all the lights are on and when you turn the headlight switch forward two notches (to the headlamp on position) the tail lights turn off, but the parking lights and headlights are on?

Sure your tail fuse is not blown?

 

Ok, I just went outside and checked.
no they also do not turn on, well maybe it is sunny outside.

only on when I step on the brakes.

2 notches, only headlights are ON.

I saw "STOP" fuse and "SIGNAL" fuse, I checked others too since I was down there and all are not blown.

 

^^^

 

My bad I meant the "Illum" fuse in the drivers kick panel fuse box. Its a 15 Amp fuse.

The parking light wire feeds from that fuse to the switch. Chances are high that it is that fuse.

 

Nope, check the "ILLUM" again, 15amps all good.

The turn signals (front and back) light up when I push in the Hazard light switch.
I remember there was a switch to press in to reset the circuit breaker. I cannot find it

 

they are not on the circuit, it won't have anything to do with either the Hazard or any of the Circuit breakers.

well sound like you have a bad or disconnected light switch then.

when you checked the fuse, you replaced it with a good one right??? you didn't just pull the fuse out, look at it , and plug it back in???

Sometimes they crack inside and you can not visually see that it is bad.

 

i know the answer!!!! I just went through the same thing on my 7. My lights would work, but no parking lights. If you will pull your headlight switch you will notice that the upper 2 contacts on the right side appear burned. Your switch has shorted out. I bet at some point you smelled the switch getting hot. Mine actually smoked! Remove the plastic cover from the switch and expose the circuit board. You should see the contact on the board corresponding the the plug in contact that appears burned. It will be burnt also and there should be no continuity between the plug and the contact. Just resolder the contact and your lights will work.

 

I just pulled out the switch and the connector thing on the 3rd pin on the bottom is burnt.

I looked at:
http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/Technical_I...stem_part1.pdf

on page 46 that pin is labled "RB".
I will try re-soldering it now.

Thanks guys !

 

update, lights work great !!

Anything electrical in this car is solved with a little solder and a hot soldering iron.

I took your advise mazda7 and solder just those 2 contacts and plugged the switch in, still didn't work.

Then I looked at the circuit board on the other side and it looked nasty. I melted the existed solder on some really nasty ones and plugged the switch in, still didn't work. Then I re soldered the whole thing, plugged it in, bingo, all the lights came ON, side markers and all. It only took 10 minutes, very nice.