The top bulb on my tail lights don't work, I have red tail lights 2004 mini. should they work?

 

The top bulb in a 2004 taillight is for the rear fog. It is turned on manually by a switch in the toggle panel. If your toggle panel doesn't have a rear fog switch, then your car doesn't have the rear fog option and the top bulb is simply unused.

There is a simple mod to make the top bulb function like an extra brake light. If you do this mod, I recommend that you replace the top bulb with an LED bulb so that it doesn't draw too much additional current from the brake light circuit.

 

Is there a "How to" on how to do this conversion here on the forum somewhere? I really want to make this change... I've converted the rear fog light to a brake light and I'd like to do the same for those two bulbs in the taillight that just sit there and do nothing. Also, do you have a LED bulb you can recommend?

 

Here is a pdf from long long ago to jumper the connections with a paper clip..

I had someone solder a wire across the back of the assembly instead. It has been working just fine since September 2002. If you have the rear foglights enabled, you would need to use a diode instead of just a wire.

Makes a huge difference in brightness.

 

Your sig says you have an '06. The taillight configuration changed starting with '05, and the top bulb in your '06 is the turn signal. You say you've already done the mod for your rear fog light (in the bumper), and that's about as far as you can go with brake lights. DO NOT apply the mod to your turn signal!