Astra brake light problem

finallydebtfree!!

Hello, I was hoping there would be someone out there that may be able to offer some advice

I have a 1998 Vauxhall astra, recently the brake light in the rear window has been stuck on when I have my lights on. It doesnt happen all the time though which is annoying!

I have taken it to a Vauxhall garage today who couldnt find a fault (as typically it didnt happen when they checked!!!) they said if it happens again to go back (well Im 100% certain it will happen again as its been doing for over a month now!!) and they will replace a switch (dont ask me what switch!!) for a cost of £63 :eek: well if they cant find a fault how do they know that will fix it?

Its annoying as I dont drive a lot but when I do its normally on the motorway at night and it must be irritating for anyone driving behind me, plus I dont want to end up getting pulled over for it.

Conor_3

Are you sure it's not stuck on all the time and you're just noticing it when it's dark?

It's probably the brake light switch which is affixed to the brake pedal. Knowing the cost of labour, £63 is probably right from the dealers. The brake light switch isn't a massively dear part.

It needs to be sorted because when the light is on, all your brake lights are so if its on when you're not braking then when you do, people won't be able to tell and you may get rear-ended. If the person who runs into you tells their insurers your brake lights were defective, you will end up paying them.

finallydebtfree!!

thanks Conor!

Its definately not on all the time as I if I switch my lights off (when safely outside someones house) and keep my engine off the brake light goes off, also have got someone to look and its not all my brake lights that are on, the rest only come on when I press my brakes

hewhoisnotintheknow

i would disconnect it and then re run a wire my self

also take it to an auto electrician rather than a dealer

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Check for corrosion on the rear light clusters.

mikey72

Check the brake light/tail light bulbs are the correct ones, take them out and see if the central brake light goes off. Check the earths in the rear lamp clusters, both in the bulb holder, and the cluster to the chassis. Do any the the sidelights go out when you press the brake pedal?

finallydebtfree!!

will get someone with a bit more knowledge to read through this and have a look for me!!

mikey, I dont think my sidelights go out.

I havent changed any bulbs recently and have had the car for 5 years and this has only been happening for about a month (I should have had it checked sooner but yesterday was the first day I was able to get to a garage)

hewhoisnotintheknow

i would also take all the rear bulbs out and put them back in, however you would of hoped thatthe garage would spot anything wrong

Conor_3

finallydebtfree!! wrote: »

thanks Conor!

Its definately not on all the time as I if I switch my lights off (when safely outside someones house) and keep my engine off the brake light goes off, also have got someone to look and its not all my brake lights that are on, the rest only come on when I press my brakes

Well that's certainly different and somehow I don't think it's the switch in that case as they'd all be on.

finallydebtfree!!

latest update, its all the brake lights now! but still not all the time!! guess I will have to arrange to have the switch replaced, why do these things always happen at the worst times? lol

hewhoisnotintheknow

finallydebtfree!! wrote: »

latest update, its all the brake lights now! but still not all the time!! guess I will have to arrange to have the switch replaced, why do these things always happen at the worst times? lol

i would assume its one switch for all three, so if the middle is doing something different to the other two its not the switch