Brake light issue

[natsoundup]

Happy New Year

I know this issue has been talked about many times before....but I have a twist.

Yesterday someone tells me that my brake lights are out... yet I do not have one of those "stop light inoperative" messages.

So I come home...the fuses are fine... the lights work in the park mode, and turn signal mode, but no brakes lights (the top mounted light is working)

I pull the bulbs and notice that the contact look worn or melted....the bulbs however are working..

So I replace all bulbs, still no luck.

I am miffed.

[maxnix]

Both filaments?

How do your sockets look?

[natsoundup]

Sockets are fine

All Bulbs seem to light up...

2- 1156.... turn signals fine

4 1157's work fine in "park light" mode.... no luck with brakes or reverse....

Frustrating...

I am also having trouble signing in...so I registered again...

[911/Q45]

Tighten all the little Phillips screws connecting the wiring to the sockets.

[Jberger]

Change your bulbs, that may solve the problem. Use only the ones with the -LL suffix, they will not harm the sockets.

I was having an intermittant lamp outage and found that the actual contacts had melted causing an intermittant short, it was a non-LL bulb too!

[natsoundup]

I don't know what it is, but I have difficulties signing in...

anyway... the backup bulbs are working..... that was my mistake

I will try tightening the screws...and go out and buy ll bulbs....

I am thinking about calling Scottsdale...and order two new rear bulb assemblies....

I thought it might be a brake light switch or something like that, but the top third mounted light is fine...

I just suspected I would get a "stop lamp inoperative" signal....

I will update you on any progress or lack thereof

[autotech43]

Is the vehicle a Q-45? Many of the Q's had a problem with the sockets that hold the bulbs of burning/melting which will require replacement of the sub assemblys. You have one for each side which can be replaced very easily.

[Q45tech]

Remember the sensor assembly which measures the bulb current [and sends the signal to the diagnostic display] can fail when abused by the wrong bulbs or sockets!

[natsoundup]

I was hoping you would wiegh in Q45 tech..... is that sensor a DIY thing...or should I just put it in the shop?

For the record it appeared that my 90Q had two original 1157's and two replacements. I have owned it for 8/13 years, but I can't remember the last time I replaced some bulbs.. the contacts on all the 1157's seemed that they had been worn or melted to some degree....

I know that electrical problems are often difficult for shops to diagnose as well.... I just cringe about the idea of taking it to a dealer...

By the way, I have the mini-manual.... and do some work myself...I see the stop and tail sensor on page EL36.

[Jberger]

Make sure you get the correct bulbs from the dealer. The last set I got were not LL, they were some cheapo bulbs that ruined one socket. The real bulbs should have a nice crome apperance, and were cheap at autozone.

Still aggrevated that the dealer sold me the wrong bulbs. . .

[natsoundup]

Just for the heck of it , I went out and bought LL bulbs rather than the standard Sylvania's.... no luck...

I guess it will boil down to the sensor....or the sub assembly.... maybe I will order two sub assemblies from Scottsdale...as a final troubleshooting measure before I put it in the shop....

I have to think about this one...

[Q45tech]

Rare for both bulb subassemblies to fail at exactly the same time so follow the electric diagram to find commonality!

[DAEDALUS]

New assemblies are prudent with age IMO. The sensor is a DIY job. Unscrew and pop off the plastic trunk lip trim, remove the rear carpeted panel (plastic fasteners), and the sensor's screwed on right behind the panel. Go ahead and get to it after putting in the new assemblies, then tap it hard and jiggle the harnesses on it before you order a new one. What the heck, it won't hurt.

[natsoundup]

You guys are too f....in much.

The Tech says it's not likely to be the assemblies...they shouldn't fail at once... he insists it's the sensor.

Then Daedalus says pop this off , unscrew that...and whack the sensor....

Well, I tapped it first....no luck.... then, I whack it hard as my son has his foot on the brakes.....

Bingo.....tail lights. Now what do I do with the extra 1157's?

I figure you guys saved me a $150, if I had taken it to a shop... who knows with the dealer...it probably would have been assemblies, the sensor and a series of 6 dollar bulbs.

I have another problem that happened at the same time as the brake lights, but am a bit embarrassed about what it is..... I'll ask the question in a few days, if I can't find the answer in my mini-manual.

Thanks guys...... as a bi-product I have a clean trunk.... I put away the jack that I used when I changed out those upper links.

Regards,

Lee PolowczukGreenville, SC

1990 Q, 148k....and keeping my fingers crossed on the chain guides.

[Q451990]

I wouldn't count on that fixing it permanantly! The good news is that you found your problem. I don't hear of that sensor failing a lot, so you might consider checking for one in a junk yard if they're really expensive.

Glad to see another Q owner nearby... if you're ever going to be in Columbia maybe we can meet up - you'll just have to get here by way of Spartanburg and bring me a hash-a-plenty from The Beacon!

Heath

[natsoundup]

I am checking the brakes on a daily basis....in the interim... I do intend to check out prices for new and for used.....

Some weekend day I'll take a run down to Columbia...and we can chat... we just have to get through football season...

It's nice to have the brake lights back...they were out for about a week and I was getting paranoid.