9 replies to this topic

[Riz_Mini]

Right my rear bulb went out on my Mini which was pointed out by a friend... so off to Halfords I went.

Looked the the Halfords guide and picked up pack no. 380 and fitted it.... had abit of limescale on the inside to cleaned it out.

New bulb works when I turned my lights on.... great job done, throw old bulb away...

Anyway met up with a family member who was following me and it turns out that everytime I put my brakes on, the brake light on the otherside works but the new bulb goes out... until I come off the brakes!!!

Help

Any idea` what it could be?

Riz

[fikus01]

possibly a bad earth!! you mite have a bulb in up side down!!

[Riz_Mini]

possibly a bad earth!! you mite have a bulb in up side down!!

I didnt know you could put them in the wrong way.... Could be that as the side light works.... will check it.

Thanks...

Hope its not the unit

Riz

[fikus01]

the units tend to last a good 300 years if u keno how to keep them going. i have very rarely seen one corroded beyong being usable.

you could always check with a multimeter that toy have voltage going to both. if you do its a fitment problem

[Riz_Mini]

Not good news Blub is ok and works 100% when normal use...

Braking light works during the day, but when u turn the lights on, side lights work.. but when braking the side light goes off and the other brake light goes brighter.... checked and cleaned the bulb socket, all ok..... its the left hand side rear light unit.. its behind the fuel tank

How do I fix this problem? dont know where to start to look.. checked the fuse, thats ok.

HELP

Riz

[Dan]

Well, the lamp the other side will get brighter under braking as that's the brake lamp coming on!

Firstly, try a different bulb.

It sounds like the brake lamp in that cluster is earthing through the side light circuit and vice versa and as you have inspected the socket and there's nothing wrong with it then it must be a fault inside the bulb. Don't assume that it'll work properly because it's new.

The only other thing that could cause this has been hinted at above, you do definitely have the right bulb in the right way round don't you? The two pins on the sides should be at different heights if you have the right bulb. This is to make sure you get it the right way round as the two filaments for tail and brake are different power ratings. If you've got the wrong one or forced it in the wrong way round there could be all kinds of shorts.

Actually, I think I may have just worked this out. Have you put in a single filament bulb? It should have two pads on the base rather than just one large one. One pad for each filament. A single filament bulb could well cause this.

Edited by Dan, 24 December 2006 - 12:14 AM.

[Riz_Mini]

Well, the lamp the other side will get brighter under braking as that's the brake lamp coming on!

Firstly, try a different bulb.

It sounds like the brake lamp in that cluster is earthing through the side light circuit and vice versa and as you have inspected the socket and there's nothing wrong with it then it must be a fault inside the bulb. Don't assume that it'll work properly because it's new.

The only other thing that could cause this has been hinted at above, you do definitely have the right bulb in the right way round don't you? The two pins on the sides should be at different heights if you have the right bulb. This is to make sure you get it the right way round as the two filaments for tail and brake are different power ratings. If you've got the wrong one or forced it in the wrong way round there could be all kinds of shorts.

Actually, I think I may have just worked this out. Have you put in a single filament bulb? It should have two pads on the base rather than just one large one. One pad for each filament. A single filament bulb could well cause this.

Hi Dan,

Well ive tried the other buld in the packet, checked that they are the right ones and even swapped the old bulb across from the otherside, its deffo something to do with the left hand side unit / wiring. If cleaned the bulb holder out as there was some limescale in it, perhaps this caused the bulb to blow in the first place.... and the bulb only goes in one way so its in correctly.

Ive not done anything to the car for any wiring to go faulty.... could water have caused something? all the connectors seem to be ok but I can get behind the fuel tank.

Could it be a grounding issue.

Just to recap.. the rear side lights work OK as they should during the day and when you brake too.

But when u turn the lights on for the night they seem to work except when you use the brakes, the left hand side light goes out and the right brake works but brighter than usual.

Im totally lost now

Riz

[fikus01]

im suspecting an earthing problem but if its behind your tank its not the easiest to check out. i think you're looking at maybe removing the tank and checking the connections behind that light unit!

Edited by fikus01, 24 December 2006 - 02:17 PM.

[Riz_Mini]

im suspecting an earthing problem but if its behind your tank its not the easiest to check out. i think you're looking at maybe removing the tank and checking the connections behind that light unit!

Is it a big job to removed the tank? I might be able to get a small wee spanner and losen the 3 bolts for the light unit... then take it out that way?

Riz

[fikus01]

if u can thats cool. GOOD LUCK