arse - no brake lights...
Discussion
hi all. Was told whilst on a run out last Sunday that I am lacking in brake lights. Checked the switch, seems ok, but then after I tested it with the mutimeter and refitted it (just loose to test them with the "button" left out) the fuse blew. It had blown in the first place, so I tried another fuse and pop, went again. IIRC its the same fuse for the wiper "off" position which is also not working now.
Tried unplugging the rear lights from the circuit and fuse blew as soon as ignition turned. any idea guys?
Tried unplugging the rear lights from the circuit and fuse blew as soon as ignition turned. any idea guys?
I would have thought from what you say it might be a problem with the wiper parking circuit. Unplugging the rear lights is no different to the brake light switch being in the off position with the pedal up. I would try unplugging the wiper motor to eliminate that and see if you can get the brake lights working ok. If the lights then work ok, check out the wiper motor.
Ivan
Ivan
Ribol said:
I would have thought from what you say it might be a problem with the wiper parking circuit. Unplugging the rear lights is no different to the brake light switch being in the off position with the pedal up. I would try unplugging the wiper motor to eliminate that and see if you can get the brake lights working ok. If the lights then work ok, check out the wiper motor.
Ivan
thanks mate - whereabouts is the wiper motor? I have this horrid feeling its going to be under the mesh at the front edge of the windscreen......
shillers said:
its the same fuse for the wiper "off" position which is also not working now.
Excuse me for being dopey but what do you mean 'wiper off position'?
the "parking" element of the wipers. I believe the wipers are themselves on another fuse but the park position of the wipers shares the fuse with the brake lights. Mind you, if that were the case, I guess I could rule out dodgy wiper motor since with brake lights unplugged the fuse doesnt blow...
shillers said:
Try pulling the leads off the brake light switch - Hope you have a stack of fuses
thats fine, but then with the switch in place the fuse blows. I guess it could be the switch, but multimeter shows that it goes from an open circuit to a closed circuit when switch is depressed.
johno said:
Did you do anything further to the switch ?? You haven't created a short circuit in the switch by chance ??
Do the Chimaera rear light cluster have a multi plug connection ?? If so, have you got 2 pins touching ?? Water in it ??
still suspecting the switch but the chim did get some hard rain the other night. No obvious wetness in that corner of the boot but may be a point. Mind you, I tried the circuit with the lights unplugged and the fuse still blew. still suspecting the switch.
thats gutting, as I really dont have a clue now 
shnozz said:
Try pulling the leads off the brake light switch - Hope you have a stack of fuses
thats fine, but then with the switch in place the fuse blows. I guess it could be the switch, but multimeter shows that it goes from an open circuit to a closed circuit when switch is depressed.
So that eliminates the wiper - the problem looks like its between the switch and the lights (inclusive) pinch cable perhaps - could be shorting out on all those empty beer cans in the boot!
Ribol said:
Mind you, I tried the circuit with the lights unplugged and the fuse still blew.
Sorry did not read properly, where did you unplug the light circuit, brake light switch end or boot end?
Ivan
tried both and fuse blew each time. I think
trying to think back to yesterday...If you have disconected the lighting circuit at both ends, as in at the brake light switch and the boot end that that takes all the wiring down the car out of the equation. Basically a live goes into the switch it then runs down the car to where it splits to left and right. This would mean the fuse blowing even when the two switch wires are hanging around in mid air connected to nothing?
If that is the case and you say the only other thing on the fuse is the wiper park circuit I would try unplugging the wiper motor which is under the dash not a million miles from the brake light switch and see if that stops it happening.
Ivan
If that is the case and you say the only other thing on the fuse is the wiper park circuit I would try unplugging the wiper motor which is under the dash not a million miles from the brake light switch and see if that stops it happening.
Ivan
Ivan, fantastically helpful same as always 
Thank you kindly. Not going to get a chance to have a good look now for a few days but will try and find the wiper motor to unplug. I assumed it to be around the bulkhead near the wiper arms rather than in the footwell/under dash area..
is it a dash top off job? I hate those jobs as getting man hands to undo the bolts aint easy
>> Edited by shnozz on Monday 11th October 09:31
Thank you kindly. Not going to get a chance to have a good look now for a few days but will try and find the wiper motor to unplug. I assumed it to be around the bulkhead near the wiper arms rather than in the footwell/under dash area..
is it a dash top off job? I hate those jobs as getting man hands to undo the bolts aint easy
>> Edited by shnozz on Monday 11th October 09:31
Shnozz,
I've been a bit preoccupied this weekend and hadn't logged into PH until this morning.
Checked your posts re multimeters and blowing fuses etc. I'm reasonably OK fault finding with a meter and if you feel that two heads are better than one, I'd be more than happy to pop round to help try and trace the fault.
I've been a bit preoccupied this weekend and hadn't logged into PH until this morning.
Checked your posts re multimeters and blowing fuses etc. I'm reasonably OK fault finding with a meter and if you feel that two heads are better than one, I'd be more than happy to pop round to help try and trace the fault.
big thanks to SotonS2 for coming over last night and many hands making light work and all that. Also thanks to Fish for his phone advice yesterday. The problem seems to be coming from the wiper motor connector so a new one is on order.
Guys, its times like this that PH is just superb. Thanks to all of you for your help.
Guys, its times like this that PH is just superb. Thanks to all of you for your help.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff