Indicators On, Brake Lights Fail Warning Mystery, Iffy earthing?

Hi people,

One of my Pink Stripe XM problems, so apologies in advance to Kev . When you switch on the indicators, they appear to function fine, the dashboard indicator lights work, but you get a brake light failure warning message up on the dot matrix display, and a little "beep". The beep really irritates after a bit, esp. as I'm a religious user of the old indicators (it's just being civil, costs nothing and I'm sure it saves lives).

If you turn left, the dot matrix says the LH brake stop light has failed. If you turn right, the RH one.

It doesn't always happen in the same sitiuations.

It doesn't happen if you have the brakes on before you start to indicate.

I've visually checked the wiring I could see at the brake lights, but it seems fine on both sides.

Any ideas?

Ade

Hi Ade,

Almost definitely an earthing problem. There's an earth point behind each light cluster and another inside the boot lid.

In the first instance it would do no harm to give them a good clean and a grease up. While you're at it you'd be as well doing all the earth points.

Cheers

noz

Thanks Noz,

It's out with the wire brush and WD40 then. Just as well the weathers nice!

I'll let you know what happens. How many earthing points are there....?

Ade

you may find it helps to add an extra earth from the light carrier direct to the body (one of the lugs the light cluster attaches to perhaps, since it's in a handy location.

regards
Dave

Hi Ade,

Sorry forgot about that one. Dave's right, there has been some talk before of corrosion at this point. Apparently there are two main locations for corrosion and hence failure. One is where the cable is crimped into the connector inside the plug. The other is where the plug grabs hold of the pins in the socket. Either location gives rise to the same problem ie a breakdown in continuity or a high resistance.

Cheers

noz