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Snowy90

Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 482

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Fuji White

3rd brake light

Hi
I am at a complete loss!

My 3rd brake light hasnt been working for sometime. All other brake lights work fine

changed bulbs nothing, then i saw on a thread here about the casing wearing away the power strip so did the jump with a cable.

I now have 12v at all points to the holder, the holder and bulb have continuity and i have bought new bulbs.

It should work, but doesn't, what am i missing!

Please help before i question my sanity!

19th Oct 2022 2:36pm

rallysteve

Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2227

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green

Have you checked the cables in the convoluted rubber grommet/tube which lead to the door? Likely one or more is broken 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread

19th Oct 2022 2:52pm

Snowy90

Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 482

Hi no i haven't but I'm getting 12v at the socket/bulb holder when the brake pedal is pressed.

Ill have a look though

19th Oct 2022 2:59pm

LR Nuts

Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1119

Check the bulb holder earth point.

Where was the earth lead when you tested and got 12v ?

PS High level brake light is NOT a legal requirement hence will not fail an MOT, but yes its good practice to have it working.

19th Oct 2022 3:59pm

Snowy90

Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 482

Hi
I just measured off the two connectors to the bulb holder.
Nothing until pedal depressed then 12v
Is there another earth closeby?
It just keeps coming up as an advisory and I will have bikes ina a rack so wanted to get it working.

19th Oct 2022 4:08pm

rallysteve

Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2227

It is possible to still get 12v on a cable when open circuit but it not be able to provide any current when under load when a cable is damaged.

Try measuring the voltage across the bulb holder with the bulb in place. 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread

19th Oct 2022 5:25pm

sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 574

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

I had the same problem with no 3rd brake light.
The wiring goes through the heated rear window element,so if you have a break in any of the heater wires within the heated rear window the 3rd brake light won't work.
I bypassed the heated window by disconecting the feed wires to the heated rear window put in a wire from each side to the terminals on the 3rd light.
Hey presto.....3rd light works.
Marc.

19th Oct 2022 6:13pm

GuJa

Member Since: 03 Oct 2017
Location: Elsfleth
Posts: 20

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Tonga Green

The case of the 3rd brake light tends to chafe the electric lines. Remove the case and have a close look where the case and the rear screen come together.

19th Oct 2022 7:08pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

I thought that problem had been solved by 2008 when the heater element was re-designed to go around the brake light casing? 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

19th Oct 2022 7:35pm

Penfold_6290

Member Since: 22 Sep 2021
Location: Dorset
Posts: 319

I had the same issue with my 110. Tested fine with 12v across the terminals in the bulb holder but no bulb would light. It's possibly that the strip in the window deteriorates and gives a very high resistance, it'll test ok with a meter but as soon as you draw a bit of current with a bulb you get no volts. I ran a short piece of wire from the spade connector at the bottom of the screen under the rubber seal to the bulb holder to fix the issue. You can barely see that I have had to do this.

19th Oct 2022 7:50pm

sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 574

Last edited by sharkey964 on 19th Oct 2022 8:17pm. Edited 1 time in total

19th Oct 2022 8:15pm

sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 574

Penfold_6290 wrote:
I had the same issue with my 110. Tested fine with 12v across the terminals in the bulb holder but no bulb would light. It's possibly that the strip in the window deteriorates and gives a very high resistance, it'll test ok with a meter but as soon as you draw a bit of current with a bulb you get no volts. I ran a short piece of wire from the spade connector at the bottom of the screen under the rubber seal to the bulb holder to fix the issue. You can barely see that I have had to do this.

Exactly what I said/did...

19th Oct 2022 8:17pm

Ads90

Member Since: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds
Posts: 809

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Keswick Green

Penfold_6290 wrote:
I had the same issue with my 110. Tested fine with 12v across the terminals in the bulb holder but no bulb would light. It's possibly that the strip in the window deteriorates and gives a very high resistance, it'll test ok with a meter but as soon as you draw a bit of current with a bulb you get no volts. I ran a short piece of wire from the spade connector at the bottom of the screen under the rubber seal to the bulb holder to fix the issue. You can barely see that I have had to do this.

Same here just a few weeks ago. Multimeter showed 12v but obviously not enough getting through to light a bulb. Same solution, I meant it as temporary but it turned out very neat so will leave.

20th Oct 2022 2:24pm

Snowy90

Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 482

Makes sense, i never use the heater screen as generally in the garage so not sure if its works properly.

Did you guys run two wires up the rubber? or just one? left or right as your facing it.

21st Oct 2022 8:58am

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4662

I ran two wires in the rubber seal and have stopped having issues. I once bridged the element with a piece of tin foil from a chocolate bar which worked until I ran the wires inside the rubber seal. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

21st Oct 2022 11:49am

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