Correct rear light operation on Discovery 300Tdi

Hi all,

Before any one has a pop – I have used the search facility but can’t find the answer I’m after.

What is the correct operation for the rear brake and side lights on a 1997 R plate Discovery 300 Tdi (Jap Import if that makes any difference).
I have found that when you put the side/dip beam lights on the rear lights in the body sides of the vehicle and the light at the top of the rear door in the glass come on. Then when you press the brake pedal the lights in the rear bumper come on. Is this correct or has someone wired what I would consider to be the high level rear brake light in the rear door up incorrectly as I would expect this to illuminate with the brake lights in the bumper and not with the side/dip beam lights in the body.

Cheers
Andy

sounds like someone's got their wires crossed

Normal

Rear bumper : side lights and indicators
Rear light clusters : Brake lights and fog lights and sometimes indicators.
Rear door brakelight.

Also it is possible to get a rear side light in each of the rear clusters with a bit of additional wiring. This is in addition to side lights in bumper.

Given that the wiring is loomed, it would be interesting to know what you find.

For UK spec disco 1997 MY

Rear bumper. Rear light + indicator
Light cluster. Rear+brake light + indicator + reverse + fog

1997 didn't have a high level brake light that came with the 98 MY

might be cause its an import discool

mine is a 97 300tdi auto with high level light but it is a brake light and doesnt come on with side/dip beam.

discool said:

For UK spec disco 1997 MY

Rear bumper. Rear light + indicator
Light cluster. Rear+brake light + indicator + reverse + fog

Click to expand...

That's what mine is .. no brake light in the door.

But I have now pinched from a Volvo estate and a bit of DST job done.

Hi guys,
Thanks for all the replies - i'll have a propper look tomorrow - now i know how it should all work. The vehicle has been fitted with a tow bar with twin electrics before my ownership so i wonder if someone has buggered about with the loom when fitting that. I'll report back when i've had a look.

Ps Discool - that retro fit Volvo item looks much better that the OE spec one - nice work.
Cheers
Andy

If your upper brake light has been a retro fit then it could just have been spliced into the tail lights rather than the brake light. If its factory then whoever wired the towbar has probably chopped through a wire and joined it incorrectly. Does it come on as a brake light when the headlights are off at all?

Hi all - you may have seen from my other post that i've been looking at the rear door speaker wiring and while there i had a look at the rear light wiring - looks like there was a bad earth at the trailer electrics - all sorted now - rear lights in the body and bumper come on when lights are switched on and the brake lights inc high level rear door light now only come on when the brake pedal is pressed. Job done - shame the same can't be said for the rear sub wiring.
Cheers
Andy

A common prob Andy with the trailer socket, I've only used mine a few times but I've always made sure it's stuffed with vasaline when not in use but I'm sure normal grease/waxoyl will do.

Yep - as you say - trailer socket now re-wired and full greased inside and out.LOL