Electrical Gremlins...

Calfskin · Post by **Calfskin** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 2:03 am

I hope I'm being paranoid again but tonight Rene decided to stop using brake lights so now I can't tell people I'm stopping. I checked the bulbs and the fuses and no difference.

I called the RAC who came out suggest the switch however, he's not too sure about the BX and it's electrics so won't confirm it. Would this be right? All the other lights work fine (although the driver's side dipped beam bulb appears to have blown).

Please tell me I'm crazy! LMAO

Calf.

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:38 am

problems with BX brake lights coem in two guises, either they work dimly and flash in time to the indicators (known as Ford syndrome, just find a Sierra to realise why!), or they dont work at all!

If they dont work at all,t here is only one possible reason, the switch has become disconnected! Take a torch (or mobile phone) and look around the pedal, there should be two plugs connectod to a device attached to the brake pedal, one is a purple connector, cant remember about the other! Check these connections are secure, if the wire is routed incorrectly then you CAN pull them off with you toes!

If its not this then check the fuse, the BX has a fuse that runs both brake lights, though its unlikley to be this! Im assuming you HAVE checked the bulbs!?

The other possible problem i refered to (Ford syndrome) is resolved by a replacement wire form each clusters negative segment to the chasis (if you look at the pcb fromt he bulb side of the light plate you shoudl understand!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 6:24 am

Vanny wrote:problems with BX brake lights coem in two guises, either they work dimly and flash in time to the indicators (known as Ford syndrome, just find a Sierra to realise why!), or they dont work at all!
The other possible problem i refered to (Ford syndrome) is resolved by a replacement wire form each clusters negative segment to the chasis (if you look at the pcb fromt he bulb side of the light plate you shoudl understand!

I`m with you on this one Vanny. Had the same problems with Fraud Escorts, Fiascos and Siestas. Had to replace the earth wires on the rear lights to get them to work properly. Had a Cortina MK4 once which when you pressed the brakes caused the sidelights to come on which almost caused umpteen crashes as people thought I was flashing the lights to let them out-not at all clever! This, however, turned out to be because I had replaced a brake light bulb which had one `solder blob` at the bottom to one which had two (if you catch my drift). Once replaced with the correct bulb the problem stopped. Weird or what? Just be glad you don`t own a Fiat-electrical problems are built in by the factory. I wondered if they ever realised that damp string is no replacement for electrical wiring?

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:51 am

Hi Calfskin and everyone else for that matter, just a cautionary tale.
A friend of mine got pulled in for a spot check by the police whilst driving her BX. The only fault they found was the brake lights not working. They said the car would have to remain where it was despite being only 400yards from home. If she could get it fixed before they had finished their stint she would be allowed to drive it away, otherwise the car would have to be taken for an MOT test.
Bearing in mind the cost of the test these days and any other problems that might be found I would think twice before taking it out untill fixed.

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:53 am

A good wire-brush clean-up of the rear-earthing point and its associated contacts under the lhs rear light cluster could pay dividends: I've not yet had to replace rear light wiring when I've carried out this treatment.

Calfskin · Post by **Calfskin** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 4:47 pm

Thanks guys for your help. I'll keep you posted on the situation, I hope its a switch. Mind you the car has a tow bar with electrics that has been added in interestingly to teh loom. The RAC guy took one look at it and said it was complicated... LOL. The car was nursed home and hasn't been out since.

The RAC guy is almost certain its the switch. I'm going to order a switch from GSF and get an auto electrician to look at it on Tuesday.

My plan then was to use the Rover but I had to call the RAC out again! LMAO. The battery had died... Need to get that looked at as well as its making a horrible sqealing noise from the front left wheel, I'm assuming its a sticky caliper as its been laid up for a while. Also noticed that the wheel was roasting which would point to friction of some kind.

So I definately need a third car asap! LMAO.

Calf.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:27 pm

Hi Calf, take the two wires off the switch located on the brake pedal, link them together with the ignition on, if the lights work it's the switch,

if they dont, you need to look elsewhere

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 5:08 pm

The switch itself fails - its above the pedal and is cheap to replace with genuine. The fun part is fitting it!

You can check it by connecting the 2 wires together - brake lights should operate with ignition on.

The fun bit is that on many cars with switchs operating on the pedal, the switch screws into a threaded boss. On the BX it passes through a plain hole and you have to get the nut on the 'far' side!

jeremy

Calfskin · Post by **Calfskin** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 5:41 pm

The RAC bloke bridged the wires and nothing.

I have booked an auto electrician to come round tomorrow. And as luck would have it, the only one that can fit Rene in is a former BX owner who swears by them rather than at them.

If he does a good job then I'll post him name up here. Although I don't think there are many BX members in the Fife area are there? If there is please say hi! I may have seen you about.

Calf.