Guys,

Another problem this morning: my brake lamp warning light came on this morning, followed by the handbrake warning lamp, ABS lamp and 4WS lamp (this sequence is normal when a brake light has gone on my car). Strange thing is....both brake lamps are working. This has never happened before.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Garth.

On the way home, the lights stayed off - all was well. It's a mystery. Maybe a bad connection somewhere?

Thanks.


Modified by dr_g at 10:37 AM 12/5/2007

 

usual suspects

1) blown bulb or bulb is on the way out but not quite dead
2) handbrake sensor is dirty and needs clean
3) possible earthing issue


Modified by 94vtirozguy at 8:33 AM 12/6/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94vtirozguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes it usually means one of your brake light bulbs are blown.</TD></TR></TABLE>

He said both brake lamps are working. Just for grins, make sure the brake fluid isn't too low, and if it is, it's a sign of a leak or worn out pads.

Not familiar with yours, but on some models the float in the brake fluid reseviour can get contaminated and sink instead of float, falsly indicating a low fluid condition.

 

err i know he said they are working, i also mentioned that globes about to blow
i also put other factors down to so when people search int he future it might help them

 

I would still check brake fluid level and check for cels.
My thought is a problem with the abs either mechanical or electrical or even yet fluid level. I believe thats the only system that affects all those lights, as well as 4ws. I believe 4ws fails when the ABS has a problem?? Or perhaps they both opperate on another certain intrical part of which I don't know. Maybe speed sensor...who knows. That sounds wierd though.

Maybe pull the cel code for the 4ws. You check cels for 4ws same way as regular cels (jumper pin in blue quick connector on left side of center counsel) except look at the 4ws light. It will blink.


(NOTE: do not read further if you know how to check for CEL codes.)

Count the number of long pulses, and short pulses. Long are worth 10, and short quick ones are worth 1. A short pause is still same sequence, but if a long pause occurs there might be a second or 3rd, etc. codes! Multiple codes are like I said separated by long pauses. A really long pause though is the end of sequence. You'll just have to pay close attention, and watch the error codes cycle a couple of times to count all your pauses.

 

what about 3rd brake light?

 

I say something's gummed up down at the emergency brake spring and is keeping it grounded thus keeping the light on. Spray some Brakleen down there and clean it out, do easy things first.

 

i had same problem dont rule out the third brake light

 

Guys,

Thanks for that.

The fluid level is fine.

It's unlikely to be an ABS issue, since the bulb warning lamp illuminates first, a few minutes before the others start to come on.

The 4WS uses the ABS speed sensors to determine how to turn the wheels, so if an ABS sensor goes, so does the 4WS. In the past when a sensor has gone, the ABS lamp immediately lights up, followed by 4WS. The brake warning lamps do not illuminate.

I don't have a 3rd brake light.

Today the problem is back, but intermittent. Chances are its a bad connection.

Cheers,

Garth.

 

if you remove the 3rd, the light will come on. unless yours didnt come with it?

 

No 3rd light fitted as standard on my car.

 

It could be the circuit in the trunk failing.

The driver's side (lhd) taillight has the circuit that feeds the input for that light, and it could be going, all you'd need is a new bulb-holder part.

I had that light because my spoiler LED is burned out, so I just found the wire in the trunk that activates that light. IIRC all I had to do was cut it and ground the side that goes to the dash.

 

what year is this car?

 

Its a '93, uk spec.

Warning lamp hasn't come on at all today. Must be a loose/corroded connection somewhere.

Cheers,

Garth.

 

Turned out to be the following improbable fault:

The brake lights started playing up again, so I checked and I noticed that the lamp cluster on the side that had failed had a much brighter tail light than the other. The stop light didn't work.

Turned out the tiny fillament of the brake light had failed at one end, allowing the other end to fall onto the tail light fillament, or when it got hot, expand over to its original terminal thus making the circhuit again. Sometimes the broken fillament would jump off and register a fault. Other times it would illuminate fine. Other times it would fall onto the tail light fillament and they would both illuminate, hence the bright tail lights.

New bulb solved it. Was a bitch to find, cos when the lights were off, the fillaments both looked fine.

Cheers,

Garth.