Important! : Brake lights... wtf?

  1. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Isle of Wight Posts: 1250 Saxo '99 1.1
    #1
    So I got told the other day that I've got no brake lights or reverse lights, so I took off the near side light and had a look inside, the whole thing was full of water as it had rained the evening before! Not sure if this was the cause of the problem though...

    I changed the bulbs and still no luck so took it down to the local garage, they spent an hour and a half testing it, checking and replacing fuses, checking the brake switch etc, all of which was fine, but they still couldn't even get them to work! They said I'll have to take it to an auto electricals specialist...

    Is there anything else it might be? Just seems very strange!
    All of the other lights, interior lights, electricals in the car are all working as they should...
  2. Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 98 Black Saxo VTS mkII
    #2
    sounds well dodgy, have you completely dried out the lights casing and internals? stick them in an airing cupboard or something if you have one, or just blast them with a hair dryer for 5 mins.
  3. Saxperience Addict Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 11714 A6 Le Mans tuned/A3 TFSI tuned
    #3
    have them fully dried inside out, even light moisture will cause a short circuit.
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #4
    Any idea how the water got in? That would be the first thing I check.
  5. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Isle of Wight Posts: 1250 Saxo '99 1.1
    #5
    I already tried replacing the internals with dry ones and they still didn't work... forgot to mention that.

    Nope still no idea how the water got in, it's only inside the seal of the light casing, not on the outside... very strange!
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Uppingham, Rutland Posts: 9569 mk1 JP4'd VTR, '16 Fabia Monte Carlo
    #6
    when my lights filled with water and they stopped working i took it to the garage and they took out my light bords sanded all the connections down and they sprayed them with oil and they've been fine ever since
  7. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Isle of Wight Posts: 1250 Saxo '99 1.1
    #7
    all the connections on what part mate? think some wd40 might do it? hahah.
    it's strange that the brake lights don't work but my lights work when i have my headlights on? i thought they shared the same connection?
    i thought it could be some damaged wire somewhere up towards the front of the car as it's reverse and brakes...
  8. Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Isle of Wight Posts: 1250 Saxo '99 1.1
    #8
    Had my mate look at this today, the garage failed to notice that the fuses they were putting in were being blown, there's something wrong with the reverse light cabling from the front, so disconnected that and now the brake lights work fine!
    He's going to try and sort out the reverse light another day but it's not an urgent thing.

    Thanks for all your help!
  9. Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 131 Saxo Vtr (2000) - 55000
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JDub View Post
    Had my mate look at this today, the garage failed to notice that the fuses they were putting in were being blown, there's something wrong with the reverse light cabling from the front, so disconnected that and now the brake lights work fine!
    He's going to try and sort out the reverse light another day but it's not an urgent thing.

    Thanks for all your help!
    This happened to me a few times really confused me :| but yea i just put a higher fuse in and it sorted after like half an hour or checking around all the wiring and bulbs haha