OH NO!! My car is confusing brake/interior lights. XMAS HELP

[CanuckQx4]

I hope the mods can please keep this thread here for tonight, this is a huge safety deal for me and my family and I will gladly report the thread myself tomorrow and asked it be closed. Its just really late and I know Im not going to get an answer in my Qx4 forum.

I have a huge problem. my 2001 Qx4 is having a breakdown with its lights and is unsafe to drive and take my family around on christmas!

A few days ago someone told me my brake lights werent working, I shrugged it off Ive heard it before because my tails are tinted. about an hour ago another guy told me my brake lights werent working.. wtf, I pulled into taco bell backwards and looked at my tails in my rearview.

Not only were my brake light working, but they were ALWAYS on, I noticed this when there was no change in output when I hit the brakes, and then got out and noticed my 3rd brake light up top was always lit up.

I came home and checked what was going on, huge problem. With all the lights turned off, both exterior and interior, hit the brakes, and the gear selector lights and all my center console lights illuminate, let go of the brake, they all go off instantly, all 3 brake lights operate fine, but the interior lights should obiously not work my brake pedal. They turn on the exact second my brake neutral switch makes its click, like there connected to the same circuit or somethin

Then when I turn the headlights on, regular dim taillights are supposed to come on to BUT the brake lights light up, my 3rd brake light comes on, like Im hitting the brakes
BUT, if you hit the brake pedal, the tail lights get about 10% brighter(barely noticeable but there is definetely a change in output) and the gear selector light also illuminates when I hit the brakes.

Theres no way I can drive the car tomorrow evening for dinner, and I may resort to renting a car. But I dont think I can drive it this way. I really need help on this pickle guys. Ive tried to think of everything on the car Ive touched but I cant think of a thing that involved wiring or removing anything. Please help!! thank you!!

[body80]

You said you have tinted brake lights so I'm thinking you're the type of person that likes to mod and customizes your vehicle.

You need to think back real hard over the past few weeks and remember EVERYTHING you've done to you Q. Anything you've installed, anything you've changed. It doesn't matter how small, you was you need to post it up. This will help.

Did you install new bulbs anywhere? Go with LED bulbs? Install some hyperwhite bulbs?

It sounds like your brake wiring and your parking lights wiring are crossing somewhere. Parking lights work at the same time your interior light so they are connected. What's happening is the 2 wiring systems are crossing over somewhere. When you turn on the parking lights the power is crossing over at this bad point and powering you're brakes lights also. The same goes for when the parking lights are off. When you hit the brakes the power is crossing over this bad point and powering your parking lights and interior lights.
I'm guessing if you have the lights off and you hit the brake your parking light are coming on also, RIGHT?

I know it sounds like a pain in the a$$ but you need to start with what ever you changed or installed. Then start checking every single bulb and make sure it's not blown. Start with the brake light bulbs.

I hope this works out for you for Christmas.
Please post back and let us know what you find.

[CanuckQx4]

You kinda nailed it in your first sentence lol, I fudge around with to many things and my modifications are ENDLESS on this vehicle

I put in these ebay 36 LED lights for my driving/brake bulb and ofcourse it came from china and quality aparently sucked. I pulled my taillights 20 min ago and just left the bulbs dangling, turned the lights on, everything worked as it did in my first post, but for some reason I decided to touch the 2 aftermarket bulbs I put in while they where lit up

I burnt my hand!!! the passenger side bulb was SCORCHING hot after 1 minute of being on. Pulled it out and put a regular bulb in its place.

All is perfect....

I never would have thought a burnt out/shorted bulb could cause such chaos lol

Cheers!!! merry christmas and thanks

[ARKQX33V6]

Is the hot bulb a LED, if it is the diode can get extremely hot when it fails. Check your brake switch because it handled all the extra load and may be failing.

[CanuckQx4]

ya they were led, I put in regular bulbs and all the problems went away

All caused my crappy chinese parts, I should know by now, pay for quality

[Chuck Tribolet]

The same thing might have happened with good LEDs. LEDs have some strange current/voltage characteristics compared to
incandescents. I had a problem after I installed LED brake lights where every time I signaled a turn, the cruise control would shut off. Replacing one of the CHMSL LEDs with an incandescent fixed it. I don't remember the details but it had to do with a bit of leakage current.


Chuck

[CanuckQx4]

Ya it scared me to be honest, it was a sketchy drive home not knowing if people would notice me slowing down, and I thought the problem was going to be much more involved

I picked up some long life incandescent ones today, replaced all 4 tail bulbs for $12. And threw my $70 waste of money led's in the garbage, even the ones that hadent failed yet, and Im just going to stick with that

[body80]

You kinda nailed it in your first sentence lol, I fudge around with to many things and my modifications are ENDLESS on this vehicle

I put in these ebay 36 LED lights for my driving/brake bulb and ofcourse it came from china and quality aparently sucked. I pulled my taillights 20 min ago and just left the bulbs dangling, turned the lights on, everything worked as it did in my first post, but for some reason I decided to touch the 2 aftermarket bulbs I put in while they where lit up

I burnt my hand!!! the passenger side bulb was SCORCHING hot after 1 minute of being on. Pulled it out and put a regular bulb in its place.

All is perfect....

I never would have thought a burnt out/shorted bulb could cause such chaos lol

Cheers!!! merry christmas and thanks

I know from experience, modding my cars has caused me some huge headaches. Situations just like this.

Glad you found the problem.
Drive safely and
MERRY CHRISTMAS.