Brake Light (body) Failure 2001 Model

[scottish_and_mental]

Hi Guys,

Could someone possibly help me with the following ..

 

Ford Galaxy 2.3 lt petrol 2001 later model ( Y reg )

 

A few weeks a go a neighbour pointed out that the two brake lights were not coming on , only the one on the boot section ( night rider type one :( )

I swapped the bulbs with the other two ( above or below - i cant remember ) but still no brake lights - bulbs ruled out..

After googling for days to find the correct fuse number i still have had no joy so couldnt check that..

The other day i removed the rubber boot and found that TWO wires had been at some point trapped in the boot and had been sliced clean in two ( IIRC one grey one, one brown/orange one ? ).. 5 amp blocks have attached them back together but still no brake lights .

I assume when the wires were cut the fuse blew or some other switch blew ?

 

can someone with technical knowledge please advise me on how to solve this , google has done nothing to help me !

Kind Regards,

Steve

[seatkid]

 

I swapped the bulbs with the other two ( above or below - i cant remember ) but still no brake lights - bulbs ruled out..

 

 

That'll be quite a feat, as I'm pretty sure the brake lights are twin filament (brake/park), and the ones above are single filament reversing lights.

 

I suggest you check and get the correct bulbs 380 Bulb 12V 21/5w BAY15d fitting, Note the brake lights twn filaments are offset pin type, make sure you get the right type to fit, dont force the incorrect bulb into the holder as it wont work or youll get all parking lights come on every time your brake, or the brake lights will come on when the parking/headlights are on.

[scottish_and_mental]

Many thanks for the reply fella .. I had kinda put it down to bulbs/fuse at first untill i saw the wiring loom.

Will get two new bulbs now and check again .. If you / anyone else can help me with the fuse number i would apppreciate it ,or advise me on where to go next if the bulbs don't solve it ..

Trying to get a Haynes manual locally is like trying to find rocking horse sh^t so im running pretty blind - tho had it been my own car and not the better halfs i'd probably have bought the new bulbs AND a manual online by now :blush:

[scottish_and_mental]

That'll be quite a feat, as I'm pretty sure the brake lights are twin filament (brake/park), and the ones above are single filament reversing lights.

 

I suggest you check and get the correct bulbs 380 Bulb 12V 21/5w BAY15d fitting, Note the brake lights twn filaments are offset pin type, make sure you get the right type to fit, dont force the incorrect bulb into the holder as it wont work or youll get all parking lights come on every time your brake, or the brake lights will come on when the parking/headlights are on.

 

Okay, the bulbs are actually 382 single filament bulbs - both are fine .. the fuse (number 26) 15amp was blown and replaced after checking all of them with a multimeter .. still no brake lights !

3 wires go to the light - the grey/white one is one that was cut in half but again the meter showed a current going through it ..

Is there a seperate relay or switch that needs replacing as i can't see what else it could be other than a break between the repaired joint and the bulb fitting ( very unlikely ) ..faulty brake light switch perhaps ?

Edited June 28, 2012 by scottish_and_mental

[chromedome]

The switch on the brake pedal is a favourite one. It may just be out of adjustment. Do a search for brake light switch.

[scottish_and_mental]

The switch on the brake pedal is a favourite one. It may just be out of adjustment. Do a search for brake light switch.

 

cheers , will give it a bash ( maybe literally lol )

[seatkid]

2000.75 - 2003.5 models

 

Stop lamps are from F15 (10A)

 

From there to brake switch (red/yellow in black/red out)- -> lamp check module(in CJB) -->to rear clusters

 

Wire colour at lamp cluster is Bk/Red (right cluster) Bk/White (left cluster) Brown is chassis return (0 volts).

 

There is always some current flowing because of the lamp checking module (which only checks for o/c filaments)

 

Stop lamp - I'm pretty sure it should be a twin filament 21w/5W bulb i.e. a combined stop/tail lamp - check the base in the lampholder, if its got two prongs its a twin filament bulb (382) you need, if its a single prong then its a single filament 21W (382)

 

The stop lights are in the wing clusters not the tailgate clusters - so I dont know what relevance the rubber gaitor is, as the side stop lamp wires dont go through any gaitors.

Edited June 28, 2012 by seatkid

[scottish_and_mental]

2000.75 - 2003.5 models

 

Stop lamps are from F15 (10A)

 

From there to brake switch (red/yellow in black/red out)- -> lamp check module(in CJB) -->to rear clusters

 

Wire colour at lamp cluster is Bk/Red (right cluster) Bk/White (left cluster) Brown is chassis return (0 volts).

 

There is always some current flowing because of the lamp checking module (which only checks for o/c filaments)

 

Stop lamp - I'm pretty sure it should be a twin filament 21w/5W bulb i.e. a combined stop/tail lamp - check the base in the lampholder, if its got two prongs its a twin filament bulb (382) you need, if its a single prong then its a single filament 21W (382)

 

The stop lights are in the wing clusters not the tailgate clusters - so I dont know what relevance the rubber gaitor is, as the side stop lamp wires dont go through any gaitors.

Many thanks for taking the time to pass on this info .. It's given me plenty to look at this Afternoon. I only questioned your bulb numbers after a fella at Halfords 'questioned' your numbers i had written down . Will go through the whole damn rear of the car if i have too and re check F15 as a priority :blush:

I also did a cursory check to find the brake switch if i need at address that issue .. seemed to be functioning atleast mechanically if nothing else .

Edited June 29, 2012 by scottish_and_mental

[seatkid]

The twin filament bulb is a type 380 - didnt spot my typo.

[scottish_and_mental]

having checked everything i possibly can regarding bulbs , there ARE twin element bulbs there - that come on when i turn the main lights on ( obviously one half of the bulb ) plus the indicators (working fine) and the smaller bulbs which oddly both look naff ( signalling ones - whatever they do ) F15 shows 3 symbols including the fuel lamp and is a 10 amp fuse , so either i have the wrong fuse card or im missing something . either way it wasnt blown . Surely if the bulb works for the main lights it has power and the bulbs are ok - can one element go on both ???

 

TAIL - reverse lights both work - the bulbs next to them ( both sound ) dont come on regardless .. .

can i now rule out fuse AND bulbs ? ' kin motor is doin my head in and as you can tell i'm no vehicle electrician !

Edited June 29, 2012 by scottish_and_mental

[chrispb123456]

Just been looking at the Haynes manual and the car handbook, I had the feeling Seatkid was right when he said it should be a 380 bulb which is the two filiment Stop/Tail bulb 21/5 watt and guess what the car handbook is wrong it shows one brake light bulb 21watt and one tail light bulb 5 watt.

I think most people are aware that there are two tail light bulbs per side, and have just double checked on my car.

You should have 1 orange indicator bulb at the top the single contact tail light bulb 5watt 207 at the bottom nearest the tailgate and the double contact two filiment 21/5 380 on the outside edge this bulb only fits one way as the pins are offset.

The new Haynes manual lists the correct bulbs but the illustration is not that clear.

 

So to summarise you should have per side

 

1 X 380 21/5 watt

1 X 207 5 watt

1 Orange indicator 21 watt

[scottish_and_mental]

 

You should have 1 orange indicator bulb at the top the single contact tail light bulb 5watt 207 at the bottom nearest the tailgate and the double contact two filiment 21/5 380 on the outside edge this bulb only fits one way as the pins are offset.

 

 

So to summarise you should have per side

 

1 X 380 21/5 watt

1 X 207 5 watt

1 Orange indicator 21 watt

 

Thanks Chris , exactly what i have .. unsure what the 207 bulbs do as i think i need to replace both of them ( parking lights ? )

As explained , the 380 bulbs work when i turn the lights on but do nothing when i hit the brake pedal .

Now,the top tail gate brake light DOES come on ( night rider type ) and i don't know wether the brake switch controls that one too .As a point of interest i did manage to reverse into a wheelie bin and crack the rear lens where the indicator is but not sure wether there has been any connection with the two incidents as the brake light failure happened a good while afterwards .

[sparky Paul]

The 207s are 5W tail, the 380s are 21W/5W stop/tail.

[seatkid]

 

As explained , the 380 bulbs work when i turn the lights on but do nothing when i hit the brake pedal .

Now,the top tail gate brake light DOES come on ( night rider type ) and i don't know wether the brake switch controls that one too .As a point of interest i did manage to reverse into a wheelie bin and crack the rear lens where the indicator is but not sure wether there has been any connection with the two incidents as the brake light failure happened a good while afterwards .

 

1. All stop lights are controlled by the one brake switch.

 

2. Its not uncommon for both sides to go, especially if you dont check them from time to time.

 

3. The biggest failure for bulbs is vibration and shock and if you hit the lens whn the brake light was on, there is a very high probabilty that the filament will break (the hot one, i.e. brake light)

 

4. You need 2 new bulbs - now go out and buy them and fit them! :blush:

[scottish_and_mental]

many thanks for all the replys guys .. Auto factors it is .. have a good weekend :45:

[biggibraga]

I think you have been looking at the fog lights not the break lights. Fog lights are sitting next to the revers lights. The break lights are NOT in the door. :)