Smax Rear Brake Lights

[jimfitz81]

Hi Guys.
Wondering if any of you can help me out with a problem i have.
Both rear brake lights on my 2008 smax titanium are not working. The eye level brake light at the top of the boot is ok.
So far, i've tried changing the bulbs and disconnecting the battery for 5mins and reconnecting (saw this worked on another forum for some members).
I also removed the "F28" fuse under the glove compartment that is described as "brake lamp switch" and tested to make sure there was continuity, which there was.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[insanitybeard]

Howdy!

Curious the high level brake light is working but neither outer one. Can you remove the bulb holders and check to see if there is power at the bulb socket/s when the brake pedal is pressed?

[jimfitz81]

Yeah, tell me about it! 

Haven't tried that yet. Will try in a bit and let you know. Im assuming there wont be any voltage though. Would be a bit of a coincidence for 2 new bulbs to be faulty.

[GethThomas]

hmm, also check for continuity across the new bulb terminals, just in case. Check voltage at the multi plug where the wires connect to the bulb holder, just ideas to try and eliminate things for you...sometimes I put blown bulbs back in the pack that the new bulb comes out of - in case I drop the old bulb, or stand on it...crazy I know, but that's me....

[jimfitz81]

So, i've been out and had another look at things. There was no voltage at the brake lights but the reverse light and main beam lights both work fine - they are on the same wiring loom into the light.

I checked all of the fuses individually and came across a blown 15A fuse. Thought id sussed it! Went to halfords and got a new one and when i put it in, it still didn't work!

Im well stumped. Going to have to take to the garage i think 

[gregers]

well its no surprise,but i would check for broken/frayed wires in the gators 1st.
i had all sorts of problems with mine and it turned out to be the wires in the right hand side gator had broken.

[jimfitz81]

ok, sounds good to me.

When you say gators, where exactly are we talking about?

[insanitybeard]

Greg's likely referring to the wiring enclosed in the rubber gaiter where the wiring loom passes from the vehicle body into the bootlid, the flexing of the wiring at this point over time can stretch the wiring or chafe it to the point where it either shorts out or just snaps individual cables, a similar issue can occur with the wiring looms passing into the doors.

[jimfitz81]

Hi guys. Sorry, still haven't fixed this problem. Dont have the funds to take it to the garage at the mo.

Does anyone know if the 2 rear brake lights are on the same brake light switch as the eye level strip brake light?

Im thinking i might be looking at the fuse board box. But at Ã,£330 (criminal) im trying to eliminate everything else first.

[insanitybeard]

To the best of my knowledge ALL of the rear brake lights (centre high level and the ones in the lamp clusters on either side of the tailgate) should be activated by the same switch fitted to the pedal box and activated by depressing the brake pedal. Being that one of the three lamps is working correctly I'd be surprised if it was a fusebox problem, but as always I stand to be corrected!

[gregers]

my high level light hasnt worked for a couple of years now,when i put in a new bulb it blew instantly and a few more.
im lead to believe the fix is a new wiring harness from that light meeting up with the other brake wires?

im still wondering if you have a break in the wires somewhere?

oh just for info the high level brake light being out isnt a mot fail.
but your other 2 will be.

[Gizmosingh]

Hi guys! Just reg with this form so please help.  No back lights!! But top brake light still works and reverse lights work too.   Can any one help

[Gizmosingh]

We're are the fuses for the back brake lights?? What number? Colour

[johnnyroper]

If high level brake light is working the fuse is ok as is switch. As  for other lights is it just reverse lights that work on rear clusters? If so then I would imagine there is broken wiring in gators as described above.

[mike wilson]

I would not be even slightly surprised to find that it is defective bulbs.  Two of the last six I have replaced were duff and they were brand name ones.

Another point is that some of the bulbs in the back clusters are the ones with offset locating pins, not the ones with the pins directly opposite each other.

To clarify, I mean offset around the circumference not along the long axis of the bulb.