Technical Brake lights not always working

[kuliand]

Hi, seems i am encountering a few issues recently now my panda is 7 years old. My rear brake lights are not always coming on although the high level light is always working ok. I have read that the switch on the brake pedal can sometimes be the cause but would this not affect all three brake lights?

Any suggestions on what to check or what it could be? Both bulbs have been replaced and it can't be a fuse as they work sometimes.

 

[g8rpi]

Hi, seems i am encountering a few issues recently now my panda is 7 years old. My rear brake lights are not always coming on although the high level light is always working ok. I have read that the switch on the brake pedal can sometimes be the cause but would this not affect all three brake lights?

Any suggestions on what to check or what it could be? Both bulbs have been replaced and it can't be a fuse as they work sometimes.

You are correct, a faulty switch would stop all three lights working. Most likely fault is a bad ground connection or loose plug. Trace the loom back to the connector and ground. The ground may be under the rear seats.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[jrkitching]

Hi, seems i am encountering a few issues recently now my panda is 7 years old. My rear brake lights are not always coming on although the high level light is always working ok. I have read that the switch on the brake pedal can sometimes be the cause but would this not affect all three brake lights?

Any suggestions on what to check or what it could be? Both bulbs have been replaced and it can't be a fuse as they work sometimes.

I'd agree that if the high level light works, that ought to rule out the switch.

The first thing I'd check is all the earthing and other relevant connectors (including the contacts in the bulb holders). Wiring faults are often intermittent as vibration makes & breaks the circuit.

I've often had individual bulb filaments do this just prior to complete failure, but it'd be quite a coincidence to get two at the same time.

 

[Wee Smurf]

Also check the connectors for the rear light assembly. These are prone to erosion and can cause disco-ing. Give them a clean-up.

 

[kuliand]

Thanks i will check the connection to the light cluster then and see if i can find the earthing points and other connections. I have the haynes manual so hopefully that will locate things.

 

[kuliand]

Finally got round to looking into this. In the Haynes guide it shows there being an earth point on the left hand side of the car somewhere near the boot? Does anyone have details of where to find this earth point which is referenced as earth No.6 in the book.

looks like the only other earth points for the brakes are right next to the battery and they look fine to me.

 

[puyopop]

have you washed your car recently?

my pressure wash somehow got some humidity within my rear lights but non visible, which lead to rust in one of the light connecters. I had to file down the rust from the connector and it works fine now!