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Brakelight flikering

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Auto Repair Home : Automotive Repair : Automotive Wiring and Electrical :

alecastra
New User

Nov 3, 2009, 2:34 PM

Post #1 of 4 (48 views)
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Hi. Just wondering if anyone can help.I have a vauxhall astra estate 2005 model also known as a opel astra .When I have the lights on and press the brake pedal,the brakelight
flickers and puts out the tail light bulb till I release the pedal then the taillight comes on again.I have renewed the bulbholder and thought id fixed the problem
(it seemed to be working for a while.Then it went back to flickering again.I think its definately a loose connection somewhere or a bad earth.
The plug that plugs on to the rear offside tailight unit is a four terminal plug but its difficult to know where the wires go to from it.I guess one must go to an earth
point somewhere.If the plugs were just seperate spades It would be easier to just test one at a time.but they are just in ine row as part of the whole plug.
Is there any way of testing this plug.Its as if theres something shorting the circut when I press the brake pedal.I just cant find what.Most cars ive worked on are
20 to 30 year old with simple wiring.Im not an electrician but allways like to have a go at repairs myself.Perhaps i will have to get an auto electrician in to do it
Any suggestions would be appreciated

alec
Oh i almost forgot to add that ive replaced the bulbs too.

(This post was edited by alecastra on Nov 3, 2009, 3:04 PM)

Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator

Nov 4, 2009, 7:42 PM

Post #2 of 4 (33 views)
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alec; I sounds to me that you've hit the nail, right on the head. Wink

Bad earth. You can try adding an 'artificial' earth to the system by splicing the earth wire going to the tail lamps to the body of the car.
Loren
SW WA

alecastra
New User

Nov 6, 2009, 10:51 AM

Post #3 of 4 (26 views)
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Thanks for your eply loren.
I ran a new earth from the main earth point at the rear of the car,but i didnt cut the old earth off.the problem seems to still be there.
Im going to try that next.I didnt have any connectors the rejoin it but ive got them now.I just ran a new earth and soldered it on to the earth
point inside the taillight.It seemed to work with the ignition on but when i started the car and the engine is running it was back to flickering.
The history of the car which ive owned from new is as follows.New rear offside door fitted.with electric window. New tailgait door fitted with
Heated rear window and tailgate brake light.Im actually beginning to suspect that theres a link or short coming from the heated rear window
circut as that only seems to work onlywhen the engine is running.I am thinking of renewing the whole taillight loom but ill try to track down the fault
first.Do you know if its possible to buy just that part with the 5 wires attached to the plug?Its a plug with 5 female spade connectors.
I will keep you posted on any progress.

cheers.
alec.

Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator

Nov 6, 2009, 3:02 PM

Post #4 of 4 (16 views)
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Re: Brakelight flikering [In reply to]	Login - Sign Up

alec; I'm sure you've already checked the globes, but what about a loose filament? Have you checked both positive and negative circuits for continuity while the problem is happening?
Loren
SW WA

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Brakelight flikering

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