Brake / tail light problem

Ok strange problem...

When the side lights / head lights are off and I press the brake pedal the tail lights come on (front sides do not).
When the side lights / head lights are on the brake lights are permanently on and pressing the brake pedal does nothing.

I am guessing this is an earth problem of some sort, anyone give a clue as to where it might be?? Any known problem areas that could cause this?

Cheers

individual lamps are earthed through common source on many ,check yours at rear behind the little quarter panels inside rear of tub

gallaghb said:

Ok strange problem...

When the side lights / head lights are off and I press the brake pedal the tail lights come on (front sides do not).
When the side lights / head lights are on the brake lights are permanently on and pressing the brake pedal does nothing.

I am guessing this is an earth problem of some sort, anyone give a clue as to where it might be?? Any known problem areas that could cause this?

Cheers

Click to expand...

yup start with the area just behind the front bumper and work your way to the rear x-member. common fault.

Hmm it is a bit of a mess behind the panels that house the wiring. Might be time for a tidy up! There are loose ring terminals and I've no idea where they came from, I left it cos I thought if it aint broke don't fix it! Rear fog doesn't work either so could be the same earth problem. All was fine in the summer not used it for 3 months, strange how these things happen when its not used and just before the MOT!

gallaghb said:

Hmm it is a bit of a mess behind the panels that house the wiring. Might be time for a tidy up! There are loose ring terminals and I've no idea where they came from, I left it cos I thought if it aint broke don't fix it! Rear fog doesn't work either so could be the same earth problem. All was fine in the summer not used it for 3 months, strange how these things happen when its not used and just before the MOT!

Click to expand...

i was 100 yards infront of the mot place, went over a bump and the brake lights stopped working

you are best off working your way through all the leccies, removing all the old bodges. Who knows how many are now corroded or broken

gallaghb said:

Ok strange problem...

When the side lights / head lights are off and I press the brake pedal the tail lights come on (front sides do not).
When the side lights / head lights are on the brake lights are permanently on and pressing the brake pedal does nothing.

I am guessing this is an earth problem of some sort, anyone give a clue as to where it might be?? Any known problem areas that could cause this?

Cheers

Click to expand...

You put the bulbs in the wrong way? Or have they moved themselves? It IS possible because the lamp holder can be old and with years of vibration and heat the pins cut a new track meaning you can put the lamp in just about anyway you want or it's the cheapy ones made of cheese that just fail when you look at them.

Can you see NOTHING happens when you hit the brakes, it's not just illuminating the 5w filament and you can't see it against the 21w?

Also, I have seen a correctly fitted lamp, work it's way around over about a day, then short the two pins (lamp holder was a bit knackered too) which then in turn back-feeds the others.

I've fitted led lamps, no more blown bulbs