Pontiac Tempest Rear lights are not working Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(2,143)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(2,143)

Rear lights are not working Inspection Service

How much does a Rear lights are not working Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Pontiac Tempest Rear lights are not working Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1988 Pontiac TempestV6-2.8LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1988 Pontiac TempestL4-2.0LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1987 Pontiac TempestL4-2.0LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1970 Pontiac TempestV8-6.6LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1968 Pontiac TempestV8-6.6LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1968 Pontiac TempestL6-4.1LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1991 Pontiac TempestV6-3.1LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1987 Pontiac TempestV6-2.8LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Pontiac Tempest Rear lights are not working Inspection prices

Rear lights or tail lights, are an important safety feature on your vehicle, especially when driving at night or in bad weather. These lights let other drivers know where you are on the road and illuminate brighter to indicate when you are braking. When rear lights fail, not only can it be dangerous for you and other drivers, it can also result in a citation from a police officer. If you notice an issue with your rear lights, you should have it inspected immediately.

How this system works:

During the day time, or when the headlights are off, rear lights only illuminate to indicate when a driver is braking. At night, or when the headlights are turned on, the rear lights illuminate constantly to let other drivers know where you are, and illuminate brighter when braking. Your rear lights are controlled through the same switch that controls the headlights. Power is channeled through a relay to the rear lights, illuminating them when the switch is engaged. A brake light switch, which is typically connected to the brake pedal, illuminates the brighter brake lights when the brake pedal is pressed.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Blown Fuse: As a first resort, a mechanic should expect the corresponding fuse for your rear lights. When a fuse blows, it prevents the circuit from completing, in this case preventing the rear lights from illuminating. Sometimes when a taillight lens cracks or breaks, it can allow moisture to enter the lens and cause a short circuit, blowing the fuse.

  • Burned Out Bulbs: In the case where only one of your rear lights appears to be out, the cause is most likely a burned out bulb. When the filament breaks inside a bulb, it cannot illuminate the gas inside the bulb. A burned out bulb will not affect the circuit of the entire rear light system, and the other rear light should continue to function normally.

  • Bad relay: A relay transfers power from the battery to the lights themselves, but when a relay fails, the connection is unable to be completed. A relay may also fail because it is not grounded properly. A wire that is not grounded properly is unable to protect the circuit and provide an outlet for excess charge that build up. A vehicle with a bad relay or bad ground may not be able to successfully power your rear lights.

  • Bad Brake Light Switch: If the rear lights illuminate normally but do not become brighter when braking, the brake light switch may not be functioning properly. The brake light switch circuit is completed when the brake pedal is pushed, but if the switch has been pushed out of place or is not connecting properly, the brake pedal may not be able to complete the circuit, meaning that the lights will not illuminate.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine why your tail lights have failed. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the nature of the failure and the cost of any repairs that need to be made

How it's done:

When checking electric components on your vehicle, especially, fuses and relays, the mechanic will bring a multimeter which will help him or her diagnose what specific component has failed. The mechanic will begin by examining the back of the car for any superficial damage like broken tail light covers, and loose, or frayed wiring. If there is no superficial damage, the mechanic will then begin to examine the different components along the electrical circuit.

The mechanic will begin inspecting the various electrical components of the vehicle by looking at the fuses. If he or she suspects a blown fuse, they will remove the corresponding fuse for the tail lights to see if it is blown. If so, the mechanic will then replace it with a fuse appropriately rated for the amperage.

If only one of the tail lights appears to be out, the mechanic should check to see if the unlit bulb is burned out. Over time, bulbs will eventually fail and need to be replaced. The mechanic will check the filament in the unlit bulb to see if it is broken. If so, he or she will replace the bad bulb with a new one.

If the bulbs and fuses appear to be working properly, the mechanic will then check the corresponding relay for the tail lights. Using a multimeter, the mechanic can check the resistance of the relay. If it is not functioning properly, the mechanic will replace it and rewire it to the existing connections.

If the tail lights seems to be functioning properly, but the brake lights are not working, the mechanic should inspect the brake light switch. If the brake light switch is not responding to the brake pedal, the mechanic will remove the old switch, replacing it with a new one. The mechanic should then check to make sure that the brake lights are working and responding to the new switch.

In the case of any repair, the mechanic will make sure that he or she completes the necessary repairs and ensure the functionality of your new components. In the event that an issue with the taillights has triggered an error code, the mechanic will use a code reader/scanner to clear the code and its corresponding light.

How important is this service?

Tail and brake lights are designed to help other drivers see you on the road and if they are not working, you may be at an increased risk for an accident. A police officer may also cite you for not having functioning tail lights in the event you are pulled over. If you notice your tail lights have gone out, or are not working properly, you should stop driving the car and have it inspected by a mechanic.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Pontiac mechanics

Real customer reviews from Pontiac owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(2,143)

Rating Summary
1,999
79
17
12
36
1,999
79
17
12
36

H

26 years of experience
828 reviews
H
26 years of experience
Pontiac Tempest L6-3.8L - Brakes, Steering and Suspension Inspection - Los Altos, California
On time. A true gentleman. Skilled with cars that date over many years. He knows older cars including many classics. Younger mechanics probably would know know a thing about a 4BBL Carburetor. One can see that he has a true love of cars & the work he does. This is only one experience so I would hope to see him back when needed.

Chris

22 years of experience
2258 reviews
Chris
22 years of experience
Pontiac Tempest V8-5.3L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Laguna Niguel, California
Chris did a great job inspecting the vehicle, I live in GA and wanted to purchase a car in CA so I needed an unbiased third party to look at it for me. My primary concern was that the car was represented accurately in the online ad (there are a lot of scams online now), which he did, we had a great conversation after the inspection which did a lot to comfort my concerns. This was a "project" car and needed to be evaluated accordingly, it was something that I had planned on doing a restoration on so I knew it needed some work. My only critique is that when the car was delivered there was a little more rust than I had expected, I wish that he had pointed that out, I accept some of the responsibility for not asking enough questions during our conversation. Overall I am extremely happy with the inspection service and would highly recommend Chris .

Christopher

27 years of experience
356 reviews
Christopher
27 years of experience
Pontiac Vibe L4-1.8L - Battery - Hartford, Connecticut
Christopher was prompt and professional, trustworthy and very fast and efficient in fixing my car. I would use his services again in a heartbeat and I highly recommend him to anyone who needs a mechanic and wants the convenience of having their car repaired at their own home!

Mack

22 years of experience
114 reviews
Mack
22 years of experience
Pontiac G5 L4-2.2L - Oil Filter Housing - Arlington, Texas
Mack was very nice and answered all of my questions.

Excellent Rating

(2,143)

Rating Summary
1,999
79
17
12
36
1,999
79
17
12
36
Number of Pontiac services completed
23573+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Pontiac MECHANICS
800+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Understanding the IIHS Ratings For Automatic Braking Technology
In In March 2016 the automotive industry received exciting news concerning vehicle safety. While this announcement has actually been a feature available in the United States since 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also known as the NHTSA, and...
P0741 OBD-II Trouble Code: Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off
P0741 code definition Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off What the P0741 code means The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) will...
The Guide To Colored Curb Zones in Ohio
Ohio Ohio parking laws: understanding the basics Drivers located in Ohio need to make sure they know and understand the laws and regulations for parking. Even if you know all of the rules of driving and being on the road,...

Not getting enough fuel car will not run right. It stalls when you give it gas and stalls when it's running. It's a 1984 Ford Escort.

Hi there, thanks for writing in. Several early 80's Ford's swapped from carburetor to fuel injected engines; including your '84 Ford Escort. However, there were two different fuel systems available that year. If your Escort has the fuel injected engine,...

2001 Mercury Villager. The engine surges in Neutral and Park. Normal in drive. But noise and jerk during gear change.

This may be a sign of a faulty MAP sensor as the vehicle responds adversely to a load put on the motor (i.e. putting it in gear, making turns (which makes use of the power steering pressure switch) turning on...

Speedometer light does not work but all other dash lights do. The bulb is good

When you have cluster back exposed you need to recheck the bulb sockets and bulbs and test contacts for bulbs to make sure they get power and ground. The other lights and speedo and rpm gauges all use same circuit...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com