Rear Lights
Rear Lights
Author
Discussion

GV

Original Poster:

2,366 posts

254 months

Monday 25th August 2008
quotequote all
Developed a problem with my rear lights. When switched on the brake lights also come on. When the lights are off the brake lights work normally.

I'm not sure if the bulbs are correct although I have used the correct type as per the connection.

Any ideas? The headlights, indicators, reverse and rear fogs all work normally....

Waynester

6,531 posts

280 months

Monday 25th August 2008
quotequote all
Check the terminals are not corroded and shorting out between the 2.

Give the contacts a clean.

djc1001

490 posts

276 months

Monday 25th August 2008
quotequote all
Terminals and / or most likely earth. Try cleaning terminals, holders and run temp earths direct to prove fault if nec.

david

wedgeinald

1,314 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
99% certain it will be an earth.....usually is with this type of fault.

I have a joke with my wedge....

If its an electrical fault..."Its the black wire" (all the wires on early wedges are black!! even the 12v etc)

TVRleigh_BBWR

6,553 posts

243 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
wedgeinald said:
99% certain it will be an earth.....usually is with this type of fault.

I have a joke with my wedge....

If its an electrical fault..."Its the black wire" (all the wires on early wedges are black!! even the 12v etc)
Yes, I've just ripped the last of the all black wires out of the racecar and replaced with colour coded.

adam quantrill

11,679 posts

272 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
When I had this one of the brake bulbs was internally shorted from brake to side filaments.

Sort it quickly or you could overload the sidelight wiring - it supplies all the brake and side current with this fault present.


D1 MAD

383 posts

262 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
GV said:
Developed a problem with my rear lights. When switched on the brake lights also come on. When the lights are off the brake lights work normally.

I'm not sure if the bulbs are correct although I have used the correct type as per the connection.

Any ideas? The headlights, indicators, reverse and rear fogs all work normally....
Have you just changed the bulbs? I'm just wondering if they are 180 degrees out in the holders so that the brighter filament is powering up on the position lights so you can't see the weaker filament coming on (with the brake) until you turn the position lights off. Not always easy to spot the difference in daylight.
Just a thought.

GV

Original Poster:

2,366 posts

254 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
Well I checked the earth connections with the results that lights got even brighter!!

Regarding the bulbs - can someone let me know which type of bulb should be used. I have connected what I believe to be the right type of bulb for the relevant connection just in case I may be using the wrong types - a pic or a diagram would put my mind at rest...

Thanks

Andy

jmorgan

36,010 posts

314 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
I had some real oddies happening with mine but turned out to be the circuit board the lamps were plugged into. They may need a good clean but certainly check the bulb first. Manual says below but bulb seems odd? 400 but any different to the 350?

GV

Original Poster:

2,366 posts

254 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
Problem sorted guys - in the end it was a combination of the wrong bulbs and dodgy connections. The earth was ok...

Now for the MOT!