Brake light out

spugzbunny

Hello! :beer:

A friend of mine was following me in the car today and she has told me one of my brake lights is out. Not great with cars but I know boys who are and I can follow instructions! What do I do? Can I just buy a bulb and replace it or is it a dreaded garage job?? It's an N Reg Nissan Micra - not driven regularly so I've got a week or so to fix it!

Also - if the answer is drive to halfords, buy bulb, replace... and I was unfortunate to get pulled over on my way ... what is the law there? Should I get a mate to take me instead?

Many Thanks in advance! :T

Bowling_4_Gold

Very easy job the rear one is- just a case of popping the back access to the 'cluster' open, taking the bulb out and putting the new one in. If you really can't manage, go to Halfords and they will do it for about £5 (plus cost of bulb) but you can get a cheap bulb off eBay and it should work.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

No officer in his right mind would bother to prosecute you for driving with a faulty brake light, especially if you told him you were on your way to replace it.

goldspanners

it should be easy on an old micra,there might be a couple of plastic thumb screws inside the boot behind where the light is,unscrew these and the light might come out,or alternatively there will be a cover which clips over the back of the light.

dont remove the bulb until you have a new one,because if you do drive to a motor factors to buy one and the police see it isnt there then they might give you a ticket.

keep the bulb in and drive to the motor factors,buy a bulb (the right one for your car,it should be a 380 bulb) then fit it,if you get stopped plead ignorance and say it was ok when you checked it before you set off and you will now go straight away and get a bulb,then thank them for letting you know.

spugzbunny

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Very easy job the rear one is- just a case of popping the back access to the 'cluster' open, taking the bulb out and putting the new one in.

Ok doesn't seem too bad or expensive! Are talking boot side or outside?

spugzbunny

thanks gold spanners! I will don my most manly of overalls and go investigate!

SailorSam

Instead of going to Halfords, have'nt you got a small motor shop handy.
If you go when they're not bust one of them may go out and fit it for you.

hewhoisnotintheknow

read your manual

Premier_2

spugzbunny wrote: »

Hello! :beer:

A friend of mine was following me in the car today and she has told me one of my brake lights is out. Not great with cars but I know boys who are and I can follow instructions! What do I do? Can I just buy a bulb and replace it or is it a dreaded garage job?? It's an N Reg Nissan Micra - not driven regularly so I've got a week or so to fix it!

Also - if the answer is drive to halfords, buy bulb, replace... and I was unfortunate to get pulled over on my way ... what is the law there? Should I get a mate to take me instead?

Many Thanks in advance! :T

Change the bulb if you know how.

If not and you go in your car to Halfords, most branches will replace the bulb for you for a small additional fee (probably about a fiver! :eek:)

Btw, I think you probably know it's illegal to drive a car on a public highway with defective brake lights. If you take a chance and get stopped, best of luck. Would probably be dealt with by way of a fixed penalty.

jb66

Premier wrote: »

Change the bulb if you know how.

If not and you go in your car to Halfords, most branches will replace the bulb for you for a small additional fee (probably about a fiver! :eek:)

Btw, I think you probably know it's illegal to drive a car on a public highway with defective brake lights. If you take a chance and get stopped, best of luck. Would probably be dealt with by way of a fixed penalty.

No way, bulbs blow all the time, you'll never get a penalty by simply going to halfords to buy a bulb. Plus its not defective brake lights, its just 1 light

Premier_2

jb66 wrote: »

No way, bulbs blow all the time, you'll never get a penalty by simply going to halfords to buy a bulb. Plus its not defective brake lights, its just 1 light

Try taking your car to an MOT with a defective brake light, even just the one. It'll fail!

That means the car is not roadworthy.

Therefore to use it on a public highway is an offence.

There is a possible defence under The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 23(3)(c)

a defective lamp, reflector, dim-dip device or headlamp levelling device on a vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset, if any such lamp, reflector or device became defective during the journey which is in progress or if arrangements have been made to remedy the defect with all reasonable expedition;