No Brake lights and reversing lights help please

I have a disco 2 TD5 and have noticed that the brake lights and reverse lights don't work, can anyone tell me if this is typical of the brake switch or more likely the BCU ? also how do I test the switch as it appears to have 4 wires going to it ?
Thanks

Tornado220M said:

I have a disco 2 TD5 and have noticed that the brake lights and reverse lights don't work, can anyone tell me if this is typical of the brake switch or more likely the BCU ? also how do I test the switch as it appears to have 4 wires going to it ?
Thanks

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The brake light switch has so many wires going to it as it is part of the stuff to do with cruise control.
If I was you I'd go old skool first and check bulbs, bulb holders for corrosion and earths before diving into BCUs etc. Reverse lights although good aren't even part of the MOT.
It could well be two different problems.
The brake switch is adjustable though I doubt that is the issue. When mine went I just changed the switch, it wasn't expensive.

First of all check fuse F25 interior fusebox which is for both, the BCU is not involved in this

As above check the fuse
Switches are also a weak point

Stanleysteamer said:

Reverse lights although good aren't even part of the MOT.

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They are now, came in a couple of years ago.

Wimblowdriver said:

They are now, came in a couple of years ago.

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only
(from Gov.uk)

• reversing lights on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009

So lets us out as none of our cars are that young.
and lets OP out as his car ain't that young neither!!!!

Shot from the hip - but if a light is fitted it must work? (possibly construction and use regulations) so a not working light can get your collar felt?

Wimblowdriver said:

Shot from the hip - but if a light is fitted it must work? (possibly construction and use regulations) so a not working light can get your collar felt?

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Nope. Lots of cars got fitted with stuff that wasn't considered essential at the time.
Since when did a car need flipping "riding " lights FFS?

The section I quoted from the Gov.uk site had a list of stuff that came into the MOT in I think it was 2018 but obviously it couldn't be retroactive. Before certain dates certain cars had things fitted. But they only had to be working if fitted after a certain date.
Frinstance the reversing light isn't working on my Disco, apparently, but its 2000MY so it passed its MOT last year.

Reminds me, must fix it!

Wimblowdriver said:

Shot from the hip - but if a light is fitted it must work? (possibly construction and use regulations) so a not working light can get your collar felt?

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Ironically there are times when it pays for a factory installed light to NOT work in order to make it through the annual inspection. I don't know how things are elsewhere but over here, the vehicle will fail if presented with functioning side marker lights (i.e. those incorporated in the front indicator unit). It seems that amber fell out of fashion for these lights and they can be any other colour as long as its white.

NPG said:

Ironically there are times when it pays for a factory installed light to NOT work in order to make it through the annual inspection. I don't know how things are elsewhere but over here, the vehicle will fail if presented with functioning side marker lights (i.e. those incorporated in the front indicator unit). It seems that amber fell out of fashion for these lights and they can be any other colour as long as its white.

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Aha, the illustrious "riding" lights as aforementioned.
I once had a car fail as it had one yellow headlight bulb and one white. The tester said it would pass with yellow or white lights but not a mixture. TBH I had forgotten I'd replaced tjhe blown one with a spare my French father in law had when on hol over there.
White, predominantly white with a blue tinge or yellow are the colours headlights may be in the UK.

Stanleysteamer said:

only
(from Gov.uk)

• reversing lights on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009

So lets us out as none of our cars are that young.
and lets OP out as his car ain't that young neither!!!!

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Maybe but I would like the brake lights to work, as I am running out of wall space to hang the front bumpers and makers badges on ..... Have towbar will utilise crumple zones to their full extent

Tornado220M said:

Maybe but I would like the brake lights to work, as I am running out of wall space to hang the front bumpers and makers badges on ..... Have towbar will utilise crumple zones to their full extent

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I do appreciate that.
Have you done what I posted in post #2?
Best of luck.