Nissan Repair: tail lights, 2004 nissan maxima, nissan maxima

Question
QUESTION: My 2004 nissan maxima's tail lights are out. The break lights work though. I know its not the bulb because i myself checked it. And the closest fuse to the tail lamp is "stop lamp". But my stop light is working. Or does stop lamp and tail lights are the same. Not only that, i think my dash is out too. What should i do? THANK YOU.

ANSWER: Kevin,

If the front parking lights work and the back do not be sure to check the bulbs first.  If the dash is really out as well as the back parking lamps usually means the headlight switch is defective.  If yours is really out this is starting a trend on headlight switches going out sooner than I am used to.

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QUESTION: how do i check if the headlight switch is defective? and do you know where the tail light relay is?

Answer
Kevin,

The parking lights do not have a relay that I am familiar with.  If the front parking lights work and the rear do not then it is the switch.  You cannot really diagnose the switch other than knowing that one part is working and the other is not.  The switch has many contacts in it and when some go bad they will not work or intermittently work.