Bizzare problem with the panda;

brake lights fine without the headlights on, with the headlights on the brake lights (and the rear lights) light up all the time!

I've checked the earth bolt near the near side rear light, and all the lamp connections, but am completely puzzled...

And MOT time is fast approaching![xx(]

Please help!!

definatly sounds earth related - you checked the earth for the headlights?

as the brake light is fine until the headlights are on i would think that the headlights have the problem rather than the brake lights

but i may be wrong

When u put the brakes on do the other lights come on ?
Have u check the wires running along the car to the rear lights.
Have u removed the trim and refitted caught the wires. eg with the screw or squashed the wires and over time rubbed and shorted out.
Try running another earth wire to the lights recheck

RED HGT

ps when u put on the indicators do your rear lights flash as well if so its an earth prob

If you're _absolutely_ certain about the earth in the boot, check the one in the front which I think is on the inner wing, UK passenger side.
(Lots of black wires - maybe a bolt, maybe Lucar (spade) connectors too.)
It's a big bolt on mine - in an area which corrodes.

You might find the headlights are getting their earth through the rears..

Come back with more details - particularly Trev-m's comment about other lights with brakes.

Regards

John H

P.S. if it's earthing headlights that way - do the headlights go out when you brake

Lift the bonnet and unplug the spades from the earthing block on the inside front wing (one at a time) then cleaning the part the spade clips on to.

Use emery paper to shift corrosion, then replace the spade connector.

Do this for all of them and see if that's cured it.

I've had a few problems with mine, and that fixed it.

Hope it helps you too



Paul

Suggest problem with earth is at the back, in the light units themselves, if you are sure that the rear earth is OK. For some reason the tail light filaments cannot find earth so they are routing through the stop filaments as well. Remove all bulbs in the rear light units, clean up the bulb sockets and the spring links, unplug clean and refit the circuit board connections, then clean up the bases of the bulbs and swap them from side to side on refitting.
This is also a good time to clean up the earth points under the bonnet as already mentioned.
Please let us know how you get on.
Rgds Pete.

How about it Pandaman, solved it yet ???

BTW after cleaning any connectors or earth points I usually smear some Vaseline on them to prevent further corrosion

Steve the geriatric Panda owner

(Me or the car? Actually, you're right on both counts )

Oh, and I almost forgot: rule!

How about it Pandaman, solved it yet?