[davedrivesody]

A bad brake light failure sensor will cause the lower brake lights to not work but the overhead brake light to continue working. It is located behind the left rear trim panel in Gen 2 models, but I'm not sure about its location on your 2005.

 

[William Wiles]

You need to find a wiring diagram for the gen 3 as many changes were maid. If you plan on servicing it yourself the OEM service manual is a must have .

 

[GR6RR]

you know what, I had thought the same thing. both lights didnt work. And the bulb filament looked to be good.
I checked all fuses and sensors. Then I decided, lets try to change the bulb,.. only a few bucks right? So happens it was the bulbs, but the filaments were tricking the eye....

change the bulbs with new ones, its not going to hurt the wallet.

 

[davedrivesody]

If the system is working, a burned out brake light bulb will illuminate the brake light failure indicator on the instrument panel.

 

[gumaku1]

probobly the brake light switch, please check the output at the switch, it is very inexpensive, actually if you make a complaint at the dealer they may do a goodwill warranty claim for you.

 

[psu ody fan]

probobly the brake light switch, please check the output at the switch, it is very inexpensive, actually if you make a complaint at the dealer they may do a goodwill warranty claim for you.

Would it still be the switch if the center high mounted brake light is working, as the OP mentioned?

 

[William Wiles]

On the gen 2 the high mount light comes firectly off the switchbypassing the brake failure senser and F9. If the brake switch is bad it will not work.

 

[gumaku1]

brake switch sends power directly (controls) to the bulbs for both taillights and the center high mount stop light (same circuit). if all of these are inoperable and all of the bulbs are ok (no filament broken) then the switch is most likely failed.

If your high mount stop works and both bulb brake lights are out, then I would check the bulbs. If the brake light bulb is a dual filament (I am not sure if it is, I did not confirm it) then the parking light (5W) could be OK and the brake light filament (21W) could burn out

 

[gumaku1]

OK, I confirmed the high mount and the right brake light share the same ground, the left brake light has a different ground, so that is not your problem.

The switch sends the power directly to all of the rear brake lights and the high mount, the power goes through the rear MICU junction box.

The 05 Ody has dual filament bulbs, so that means the power coming from the rear junction box feeds the parking lights and the brake lights, although they use different circuits. are your parking lights working (both lid light and outer park light as well as license light)? please confirm.

 

[Crentist]

OK, I confirmed the high mount and the right brake light share the same ground, the left brake light has a different ground, so that is not your problem.

The switch sends the power directly to all of the rear brake lights and the high mount, the power goes through the rear MICU junction box.

The 05 Ody has dual filament bulbs, so that means the power coming from the rear junction box feeds the parking lights and the brake lights, although they use different circuits. are your parking lights working (both lid light and outer park light as well as license light)? please confirm.

So in my case, the top mount bulb and the right brake bulb are both out while the left brake bulb remains functioning properly. This seems to fit your description of the shared circuit for the top mount and right bulbs.

Am I understanding that this is not a brake switch problem, then, and that it is simply a manner of a fuse that needs to be replaced?

thanks... Extreme newbie here.

2014 Odyssey, by the way....

 

[davedrivesody]

Yes, it's not a brake light switch problem, nor a fuse since one brake light is working.

The post by gumaku1 points to a bad ground. If that's the case, you will need a service visit to locate the ground point and then fix it. Could be the ground bolt or screw has come loose.

Dave