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Waldo



Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 
Brake lights
So, I have noticed the last few nights when driving home from work. (in the dark with lights on)
That when I brake, the rear left light goes out, however the rear right light gets brighter (as it should)
I can't tell whether it goes completely out or just goes very dim.

Any ideas as to why this could be.
Faulty bulb? Wiring?

I haven't checked whether it works with the lights off as it should but will do that tomorrow.

Regards
Will Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)
Post #139688 16th Apr 2012 9:58pm
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Peter



Member Since: 04 Mar 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 153

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Back up to a shop window at night and apply the footbrake to check for sure.
Post #139695 16th Apr 2012 10:41pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Faulty earth connection on n/s brake/tail light unit.
Post #139698 16th Apr 2012 11:08pm
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Laurie



Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
blackwolf wrote:
Faulty earth connection on n/s brake/tail light unit.

Agreed. 
Post #139699 16th Apr 2012 11:15pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5707

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Start with a new bulb, simple stuff first

Andy
Post #139725 17th Apr 2012 6:39am
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Waldo



Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 
So then, was out with a friend today so got out and had a look myself.
1. Brake lights function perfectly when the side lights or low beam lights are OFF

2. When the side lights or low beam lights are ON and the brake is depressed:
The rear right light functions correctly lighting up brighter than when no braking
However the left light dims significantly to the point where it is almost entirely extinguished.

I will order some bulbs first thing tomorrow.
Recommendations? May as well get brighter ones if possible whilst I'm at it as they are pretty poor Laughing

Will Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)
Post #139855 17th Apr 2012 3:43pm
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JSG



Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
It won't be a bulb - it will be an earth problem. Might even just need the contacts cleaning. John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS
Post #139876 17th Apr 2012 5:01pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Waldo wrote:
So then, was out with a friend today so got out and had a look myself.
1. Brake lights function perfectly when the side lights or low beam lights are OFF

2. When the side lights or low beam lights are ON and the brake is depressed:
The rear right light functions correctly lighting up brighter than when no braking
However the left light dims significantly to the point where it is almost entirely extinguished.

I will order some bulbs first thing tomorrow.
Recommendations? May as well get brighter ones if possible whilst I'm at it as they are pretty poor Laughing

Will


blackwolf wrote:
Faulty earth connection on n/s brake/tail light unit.


Like I said, faulty earth connection on n/s brake/tail light unit. Entirely normal behaviour if the earth has failed, since most of the time the brake and tail-light bulbs are now earthing through each other in series. With both lights energised (ie tail lights on and brake pedal pressed) there is no path to earth and hence no light output.

Fix the faulty earth and the problem will be solved.

It is very unlikely that changing a bulb will make any difference except to the amount of change in your pocket!

By the way, remember that the law limits you to 5W in the tail lights and 21W in the brake lights (though probably no-one will notice if you go up to a 10/21W bulb).
Post #139882 17th Apr 2012 5:21pm
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LRSoffroad



Member Since: 15 Feb 2012
Location: Doncaster
Posts: 189

England 
yep sounds like a bad earth to me Neutral
Post #139949 17th Apr 2012 8:26pm
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Waldo



Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 
Okey dokey chaps I will find the earth and have a look as soon as the weather brightens up.
Thanks a lot

Will Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)
Post #140146 18th Apr 2012 5:40pm
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Waldo



Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240

United Kingdom 
i've done a bit of research before attacking this.
Is the earth point i'm going to be after adjacent to the rear screen wiper motor?

I could be wrong but on looking around that is the only bit of info i could find on it's location

Will Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)
Post #140497 20th Apr 2012 8:32am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Waldo,

To creat the symptoms you have described the earth side of the two bulbs will be connected together, but won't be connected to earth on the vehicle.

I don't have a Td5 electrical manual, but on the Puma, daft though it sounds, the earth point for all the rear lamps is in the vicinity of the transfer box:-


Click image to enlarge


Connector C0558 is the earth for the NS tail lamp and reversing lamp, connector C1412 is the earth for the NS brake lamp.

This is the area I would check first, assuming of course that the Td5 has a similar arrangement (which is highly likely).
Post #140514 20th Apr 2012 10:28am
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6298

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Got an usual one here - at least I think so?

Rear n/s works fine on side light but not on braking. Took bulb out but it looked fine so I went for fuses but they were all ok.

Had another look at the bulb and although the glass was a little black the filaments both looked fine and no evidence of corrosion?

Not know bulbs to fail without evidence of filaments failing?
Post #397990 11th Feb 2015 8:42pm
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mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6769

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
If the glass is black it's likely to be a bulb failure
Post #397991 11th Feb 2015 8:45pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
Caterham wrote:
Got an usual one here - at least I think so?

Rear n/s works fine on side light but not on braking. Took bulb out but it looked fine so I went for fuses but they were all ok.

Had another look at the bulb and although the glass was a little black the filaments both looked fine and no evidence of corrosion?

Not know bulbs to fail without evidence of filaments failing?


quite often bulbs look good but are no good , if you not got a spare bulb swap it with the other side and see what happens then your know if forsure its just a bulb needed
Post #397993 11th Feb 2015 8:53pm
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