 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Odd Brake Light Issue |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17372   
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My immediate first suspicion is that the polarity-conscious LEDs are the wrong polarity. Pressing the brake pedal will cause no light to be emitted since the polarity is wrong, but with the sidelights on they are being back-fed through the common earth and illuminating. It is hard to see another explanation.
Try swapping the wires to each of the brake lights over (I imagine that on your V8 they are individual wires with bullet connectors?) to see what happens then. Since incandescent bulbs are not polarity-conscious the vehicle will have been like this since it left the factory (I'm not suggesting that you have fitted the bulbs incorrectly - that would be difficult to do)! |
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23rd May 2022 8:45am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896 
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Blackwolf, as always, a fountain of knowledge!
I think the polarity being wrong is the most likely solution. Thanks for explaining the earthing whilst the side lights are on, I couldn’t quite work that out. I’m next with the V8 on Friday, so I’ll rotate the bulbs in the holders and try again. Yes they’re on bullet connectors. If simply rotating the bulbs doesn’t work, I’ll try swapping the wires round. Charlie 1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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23rd May 2022 8:59am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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You won't be able to rotate the bulbs as the pins are offset on stop/tail lights, i.e. they only fit one way. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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23rd May 2022 9:09am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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Sounds like I’m swapping the wires around then! Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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23rd May 2022 9:17am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17372
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Thinking about this some more and factoring in the fact that these are presumably combined brake and tail LED bulbs (a detail which I had overlooked before) it would probably be worth checking the three wires connected to the light unit with a multimeter to make a definite ID on which is which and if they are working correctly.
It might also be worth testing one of the bulbs in another vehicle if you can. Are they bulbs from a quality source or are they Chinesium specials? I use LED brake/tail bulbs on my 110 (these from Classic Car LEDs) and they work perfectly. |
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23rd May 2022 9:22am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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Unfortunately I can’t test them in another vehicle. The 90 and other 110 now have LED units. I’ve never had the lights apart on the Series 2, so no idea what’s in there
They’re from Classic Car LEDs, so not Chinese wonders. Charlie 1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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23rd May 2022 9:35am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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The plot thickens . . .
I’m going to have a guess and say the brake light switch might need replacing. I managed to get the brake lights to flash on without the sidelights on, but now I can’t. With the sidelights on, the brake lights work. However, they aren’t always at full brightness and sometimes are slightly delayed. Any further ideas, chaps? Charlie 1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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27th May 2022 2:38pm |
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| Penfold_6290 Member Since: 22 Sep 2021 Location: Dorset Posts: 317 
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Do the lights work as they should with normal filament bulbs fitted? What happens if you try to make the LED bulb illuminate out of the holder, i.e. access the vehicle battery, earth the 'barrel' part of the bulb base with a wire to the -ve terminal and take a 12v wire to each of the contacts on the bottom side?
You said before there are volts at the bulb holders, is there a good earth as well? Do the bulb holders grip the LED bulb snuggly? This is your earth path, if they're loose or there's corrosion you won't get a good earth. |
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27th May 2022 3:42pm |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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I think I might have sorted the issue.
At the same time as fitting LED brake bulbs, I fitted LED indicator bulbs. I’ve just replaced the dash warning bulb for the indicators with the Bolt on Bits earthed diode fix. The brake lights now seem to work fine . . . I presume there was some sort of earthing madness going on. I’ve found a thread elsewhere online where the halogen indicator warning bulb mixed with LED indicators has caused various issues. I’ll check it out properly tomorrow, but it’s Friday and I need a drink  Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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27th May 2022 5:17pm |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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I spoke too soon. The problem persists . . . Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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28th May 2022 7:41pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2227 
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As Penfold has asked, do the lights work normally if you put the incandescent bulbs back in ?
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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29th May 2022 7:43am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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Had another replay around.
I think it’s the bulb holders getting crusty. They look alright but after taking the bulbs in and out a few times, they work. The bulbs are held firmly. I’ve given them a hit or ACF50 and shall see how they fare. Might just be a case of replacing the holders.  Charlie
1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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29th May 2022 9:55am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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I’ll give that a try over the bank holiday and report back. Charlie 1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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29th May 2022 11:34am |
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| BaronDefenders Member Since: 28 Jun 2019 Location: London/Cotswolds Posts: 896
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I had one final play before putting the 110 away for the next couple of days.
The brake lights work when the side lights are on. No problem. Turn the side lights off and the brake lights sort of still work. Don’t turn the side lights on and the brake lights won’t work. Madness . . . 
I’ve ordered a pair of incandescent bulbs to try on Thursday. Charlie 1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD) 2002 Td5 90 (SOLD) 2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD) 1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored) 1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE) 2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK) 2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build) Instagram: @BaronDefenders |
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29th May 2022 3:02pm |
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