Brake Light Acting Strange?

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Justin
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Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by Justin » 01 Apr 2010 11:24 am

When I brake my nearside brake light is very dim and when my lights are turned on it actually goes out when braking?
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

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Speedy88
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Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by Speedy88 » 01 Apr 2010 11:32 am

Most likely an earthing problem. Check and clean your earths!
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

Justin
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Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by Justin » 01 Apr 2010 11:42 am

Where are they?
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

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SteveP
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Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by SteveP » 01 Apr 2010 11:43 am

Rear light cluster earths, very typical
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

Justin
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Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by Justin » 01 Apr 2010 11:46 am

I havent a clue where to find the earth, I'll check my Haynes manual...
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

User avatar
SteveP
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Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by SteveP » 01 Apr 2010 11:49 am

Check this out:

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =39&t=4384

You probably don't have to go to the lengths Chris did by running new earths, but a good clean of them should sort it.
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

Justin
Posts: 366
Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by Justin » 01 Apr 2010 04:31 pm

Miraculously I replaced the number plate bulb that was dead and swapped the connections around on the brake light that wasnt working and voila, the entire rear lighting system works.

Just out of curiosity where are the rear light cluster earths?
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

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Chris_C
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Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by Chris_C » 01 Apr 2010 05:37 pm

It's the aluminium looking strip that all the bulb holders try to rub against. Normally as a temp solution some contact cleaner on both the copper and the ally sorts it out for 12months or so.

I'll try and sort out the pictures on that thread in the next few days
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

CBA
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Re: Brake Light Acting Strange?

Post by CBA » 06 Apr 2010 02:22 am

sometimes just disturbing the earth strip will scrape off some oxidised aluminium and restore good contact... ensure your lights aren't flickering over each bump.

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