Brake lights still out!!!!

[edtad]

Hi again

Well after replacing bulbs, fuses, checking connections, replacing the white switch in the footwell my brake lights are still bloody well out! Gutted as she is now booked in for MOT Thursday at which point Im sure I'll be thrown the obligatory ...oh Chim electrics tricky... to be followed there after by a big bill.

Any ideas chaps as I'm pretty much at my own capacity limit I'm no electrical engineer and dont posses a bible.

cheers

[sjpalmer1]

Have you checked to see if you have 12volts at the appropriate places and continuity down the wires. By doing this you should be able to find out where the issue is.

[Ribol]

If you have a good earth at the bulb holders try putting a live supply on the wire from the brake light switch to the back of the car.
If the bulbs come on the problem is a supply problem before the brake light switch(check fuses, wiring etc).
If they don't come on then the problem is between the switch and the bulb holders(check the multi-plug in near side door shut panel).

HTH

[edtad]

Thanks for the input


[report]
09:36 quote
Have you checked to see if you have 12volts at the appropriate places and continuity down the wires.

I dont have a test meter.

Ribol
Sorry I didnt understand what you meant by putting a live wire from the brake light switch to the back of the car ?
Where is the near side door shut panel ?

rgds

[Ribol]

edtad said:

Ribol
Sorry I didnt understand what you meant by putting a live wire from the brake light switch to the back of the car ?
Where is the near side door shut panel ?

rgds

The brake light switch has 2 wires on it, one supplies it, the other is connected to the brake light bulbs(the other side of the bulbs are earthed).
If you take a piece of cable, connect it to the battery live terminal(temporarily) and touch both wires you have taken off the BLS one of them should make the bulbs come on. Remember what I said above about checking bulb holder earth.
The panel above where the N/S seat belt is mounted where the near side door motors are housed has a multi-plug in it, that sometimes plays about breaking supply to rear.

[sjpalmer1]

I think it would be good idea to purchase a meter. With this you should be able to diagnose the problem or give some extra info for the masses to be able to help.

[edtad]

I think I follow, I should in essence disconnect the BLS put the two wires together. If one of the lights comes on it could be the earth connector which can be found in the near side panel. Ive just had a look at the NSP, Im assuming you referring to the area beneath the hood pillar? as its a nightmare to get into I can see the connectors but Id have to rip the panel off as its neatly attached into door sills to get at em ! Oh joy!

I'm afraid being on my own at the mo until the misses gets back later I cant see if the lights come on when together, thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how it goes

As for the meter I wouldnt know what to do with it If I got one

cheers

[Ribol]

edtad said:

I think I follow, I should in essence disconnect the BLS put the two wires together. If one of the lights comes on it could be the earth connector which can be found in the near side panel. Ive just had a look at the NSP, Im assuming you referring to the area beneath the hood pillar? as its a nightmare to get into I can see the connectors but Id have to rip the panel off as its neatly attached into door sills to get at em ! Oh joy!

I'm afraid being on my own at the mo until the misses gets back later I cant see if the lights come on when together, thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how it goes

Not quite.

If you touch the two wires together all you have done is by pass the switch. At that point you are no wiser(you have replaced the switch already).
The bulbs are earthed at the rear of the car, or should be. The only thing to consider with supply is the live power coming down the car. This originates at the battery live terminal, goes to the BLS and then on to the bulbs via the multi-plug which is in the void above the n/s seat belt.

Any better?

[spend]

Are both brake lights out? I thought your earlier posting had 1 out???

Dave

[edtad]

OK before I do anything how do I know I have a good earth at the bulbs at the rear ?

Once this is established if I understand you correctly I run a wire from the battery live terminal, and touch both the wires independently which were formerly connected to the BLS. One of which could make the lights illuminate.
If they do not illuminate the issue will be with he multi plug in the void above the ns seat belt?

I have now pulled back the flap gaining acces to this area and looked at the connections( again I'm no lecky) and all seem to be connected fine. Ive tried pushing / jiggling them to no avail still no lights.

[edtad]

Both lights are out

[tobeee]

I often had a problem when a bulb went. I'd replace it and then the other would appear broken. They need to be in the right way up (two ways possible!). Lots of jiggling and swearing and eventually they all worked! Well, that worked for me anyway. Could also be the brake pedal switch. I fixed mine myself - if you climb down there you'll see how it works, and how easy it can be fixed! Good luck!

BTW, I didn't have time to read everyone else's threads here, so forgive me if my post makes me look like a lunatic.

[edtad]

I should also say that on reconnecting the BLS and depressing the pedal both sprang into action only briefly then quickly disappeared again ???

[spend]

Do all your other lights at the rear cluster work OK?

Is your car the earlier/later rear light cluster?

Dave

[edtad]

I have the later cluster

When main beam on, rear lights on (NS) upper red (OS) lower red

Indicator on NS ok, OS is coming on but ticking fast

Reverse light doesnt work

[edtad]

sorry when main beam on those two red lights NS upper OS lower are on.

[spend]

It sounds to me as tho all your rear light cluster wiring has been 'Gremlined'...

You need to work thru it methodically. You may have the wrong bulbs / wrong holders / wrong light units ~ ie all jumbled up...

I would remove all bulbs & connectors and start from scratch:

Lights.
Indicators
Brake & lights.
Fog
Reverse

When you are happy you have identified a working item put it back in the light unit, one at a time.
If nothing works ~ it is mor ethan likely you have an infamous earth problem.

Dave

[Ribol]

Can I just ask the OP before he starts rewiring the whole car - is this job just getting the brake lights working - as in everything else is working ok?

[edtad]

Evrything else is working fine as far as Im aware.

Again main beam ok, cluster lights up

incitaors illuminating OS ticking fast

just no reverse and brake lights !


Looks like Im screwed as Im no electrician and it will just have to be done at the garage on Thursday when they do the MOT. Just with the old funds running lean at the mo with starting new business just thought best give it a go myself. Can only live in hope my local garage can resolve it fast and keep the labour figure down... dream on Ed!!

[spend]

edtad said:

When main beam on, rear lights on (NS) upper red (OS) lower red

Even that doesnt sound as tho its working to me! You should have both upper & lower lights on both sides if it is 100% IIRC.
AFIK any of the faults will be an MOT FAILURE!

Dave