Which Codes Will This Page Cover?
- C1223 Lamp Brake Warning Output Circuit Failure
- C1224 Lamp Brake Warning Output Circuit Open
- C1225 Lamp Brake Warning Output Circuit Short To Battery
- C1226 Lamp Brake Warning Output Circuit Short To Ground
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What Is the C1223 Code?
Symptoms
Causes
Seriousness
Can I Still Drive?
Diagnose
Difficulty of Inspecting
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The C1223, and in turn its related codes, are related to the red brake warning light located on the rear side of your car. This light is tied to the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) as it monitors the braking that you do and the code is set when the ABS senses that the warning light isn’t operating under the set factory conditions. When you depress the brake pedal, this light is supposed to illuminate just as long as you have the pedal engaged. If the light doesn’t remain illuminated, this indicates that there is some circuit or connecting issue.
What Else Should I Know About The C1223 Code?
The C1223 code can also be accompanied by codes C1224-C1226, which all serve to tell you what the exact issue is with your warning light. C1224 is set by your car’s ECU to tell you that the issue lies with an open circuit and that this should be examined. C1225 and C1226 are indicative of a circuit that is shorted either to the battery or the ground, respectively.
The ABS is in control of all aspects of braking with your car and regularly communicates with the ECU to keep track of how your braking system operates. So, whenever you are confronted with any of these codes it’s important to carefully examine the cause of the issue so that you end up repairing your car correctly.
What Are the Symptoms of a C1223 Code?
The most common symptom you will find with a C1223 code is that the ABS light will suddenly illuminate on your dash. This can also be accompanied by the check engine light that is there to inform you that something with your vehicle’s systems is not operating under factory set conditions.
As we’ve established, the C1223 code and accompanying codes C1224-C1226, have to do with the illuminating feature of the brake warning lamp. So the only real physical symptom you will see is that your brake warning light will not turn on when you apply the brake pedal in your car or it might stay illuminated even after you’ve let go of the brake pedal.
This can be potentially hazardous while driving because you won’t be able to adequately indicate your braking patterns to other drivers around you. It can also very easily lead to accidents that could be avoided. To find more information on what causes the check engine light to show up in your vehicle, visit KBB’s check engine light guide.
What Are Some Causes of a C1223 Code?
One of the most common causes of a C1223 code, and its related codes, appearing is that you simply have a faulty brake lamp. Another more uncommon cause, but one that does still happen, is that you may have a damaged or defective light harness that is causing circuit or other electrical issues.
Since most sensors and components like lamps have some form of wiring harnesses, these parts are often one of the first places a technician will look when addressing a code like the C1223. Faulty wiring harnesses can lead to other issues such as poor electrical and ground connections. When this is the cause of the lamp issue, the ECU will trigger the C1224 or the C1226 codes, respectively.
When the cause of the issue is a poor circuit connection to the battery, then the ECU will trigger a C1225 code that tells you that you should inspect the battery and its circuits. This also means that you should look into battery terminals as being a possible cause as corroded terminals can cause a host of other issues. Any form of circuit issue can ultimately lead to components like brake warning lamps ceasing to function completely.
How Serious Is the C1223 Code?
We have learned that the C1223 code, and its related codes, have to do with the functionality of the brake warning light. This isn’t exactly a monumental issue but it can be hazardous if you continue to drive with a defective light.
A faulty brake warning light can cause unnecessarily dangerous driving conditions for other drivers around you as they will not be able to properly gauge your braking habits. The warning light is an instrumental component that we rely on when in traffic to gauge what drivers around us are doing.
You can also end up fined for driving with defective equipment. And oftentimes, the accompanying fine costs more than the repairs. So, always make sure to get the C1223 and its accompanying codes checked out to avoid headaches.
Can I Still Drive with a C1223 Code?
As we have stated already, it is strongly ill-advised to drive with a C1223 issue or anything that causes your brake lamps to malfunction. This is because you’ll be putting yourself and other drivers at unnecessary risk of bodily injury from accidents that can be avoided.
But, your car won’t have any noticeable symptoms to prevent you from driving, and oftentimes, drivers are even unaware that they have this issue at all. This is where the hazardous nature of this problem lies as you will continue driving as you normally do, but drivers around won’t be able to gauge when you will brake. Not to mention, that this will almost certainly draw the attention of the police and you risk citations for malfunctioning equipment.
How Easy Is It to Diagnose a C1223 Code?
A C1223 can be tricky to properly diagnose if you are unaware of what’s causing the brake warning light to stop working. But, since this code will most likely be accompanied by the C1224-C1226 codes, you will be able to have a good starting point of where to look.
With a C1224 code, you’re dealing with an open circuit that is causing a poor connection to the warning light, so you should examine the wires connected with this circuit for visible damage or pushed pins. With the C1225 and C1226 codes, you should be looking at the circuits leading to and from the battery and to the ground and again look for visible damage to the wires. To prevent misdiagnosis and further damage, this is best left to qualified technicians with prior experience dealing with circuit issues.
Poor electrical connections can also be caused by faulty or damaged wiring harnesses that will disrupt circuits. With any of the codes, you should first make sure that you’re not dealing with a defective warning light. This is the easiest repair for this warning light issue.
How Difficult Is It to Inspect a C1223 Code?
The easiest way to verify a C1223 issue is to have someone press the brakes as you visually inspect the brake lights from the outside. If only one lamp is defective you can isolate the entire brake lamp circuit and just focus on the one that is not functioning correctly.
Repairs can be relatively straightforward if the cause of the C1223 issue is a defective brake warning light. This can be the case with the remaining C1224-C1226 codes as this is the first component that should be inspected. All that is needed in this instance is that the faulty brake light is replaced with a new one. The same applies to the wiring harness that holds the light in place since these often can’t be repaired but must be replaced entirely.
With the C1225 code, the repair can include a new battery or the wiring leading to the battery. However, if the issue lies with a poor connection elsewhere in the lamp assembly, as C1224 indicates, then repairing the right wires and terminal connections will take a bit more work and should be left to a qualified technician.
With the C1223 and C1224 codes, if the root issue is an open or failed circuit, this will require more advanced diagnostic tools. This should also be left to technicians that have experience with these sorts of issues and with adequate equipment to test circuits.
If the issue calls for replacing the light itself or a poor wiring harness, then this is something that you can do yourself with the assistance of the vehicle manual or instructional videos. To find more repair tips on brake lamps and other lamps, you can visit KBB’s car repair guide.
Need Additional Help with Your C1223 Code?
To get more information on the C1223 and its accompanying codes, or where to find your local and experienced technicians, visit KBB’s service center.
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