Brake Light And Central Locking Failure

[Guest pja]

Hi.

 

A couple of weeks ago it was pointed out to me that neither of my rear brake lights (lower) were working. I booked it into my local garage to have it looked at and by the time I dropped it off, the central locking stopped working as well (so the two didn't go at the same time). The garage couldn't find the problem, but also reported that the reversing lights and the rear fog light also weren't working. They then got a diagnostics guy in (who charged

[NikpV]

I might be a bit easier for folks if you could tell us what car, age etc. Could add to your signature line (look in your profile)

 

Given that they appeared to stop working at different times I would start by checking the fuses one by one - tedious but cheap, wonder if one of the two brake light switches on the brake pedal is u/s (depends on the model i think)

 

Something nagging at me wants to know whether adjustable door mirrors are working can't quite place it - maybe a fuse problem (possibly a recent post). If it was a recent post somebody will be along to tell us.

 

 

(Having said that the nagging is probably the wife) :rolleyes:

[Guest pja]

Hi and thanks for your fast response. I'll stay in the shallow end with regards to 'nagging wives'! :rolleyes:

 

It's a Galaxy Aspen 2.0 Petrol V/99.

 

Sorry, didn't mention before, but the previous invoice also included one brake light switch replacement so they've changed that as well. I've checked the fuses that explicitly relate to brake lights or central locking in the manual and they all seem okay, but I'll go and check the others as well just in case and report back.

 

The door mirrors aren't electric so are working okay.

[bigdaddy]

There is also a known problem with the wires snapping where they pass between the tail gate and the body of your gal, especially if the high brake light still works,

 

The central locking maybe a duff battery in your key and it needs reprogramming,,,,look in the faq section for the sequence

 

 

 

 

:46: Is this Ford mechanics at work,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :rolleyes:

[NikpV]

There is also a known problem with the wires snapping where they pass between the tail gate and the body of your gal, especially if the high brake light still works,

 

 

ah that nagging feeling again :rolleyes: may account for a intermittent fault on other lights e,g. fog & reversing as reported by garage - looks likelier than ever

 

 

The central locking maybe a duff battery in your key and it needs reprogramming,,,,look in the faq section for the sequence

 

he didn't specify REMOTE central locking ........ ? is there a battery in the normal keys ?

[bigdaddy]

I assume when he says central locking not working, he meant the remote key,,,,,,my mistake,,,,,,,,,only other key with a battery would be the torch type key :rolleyes:

[Guest pja]

There's some strange stuff going on here! :rolleyes:

 

I checked all the fuses and found one that had blown (although it didn't seem to relate to the brake lights) and replaced it. Hey presto, the brake lights are working!!! :46:

 

Decided to take it out again and put the old one in to check that is what had fixed it and the brake lights still worked! So I checked the new fuse that I'd put in before and noticed it had blown as well. So although the brake lights are now okay, I've no idea exactly what I've done to fix them.

 

But now the air con/fan has packed up! Two steps forward and one step back.

 

There is obviously still a problem that is causing one of the fuses to blow (out of interest, number 34 in the manual which apparently protects engine cooling, fuel supply and engine m'ment, auto speed control, aircon and instrument cluster) so I'm thinking now that I might be best taking it to a good auto electrician for them to take a look at.

 

I don't think even Apollo 13 had problems like this... :D

 

Sorry, with regards to the central locking, it's not remote. When I turn the key in the driver's door lock, only the driver's door locks/unlocks.

[NikpV]

certainly some of the symptoms are consistent with wires broken sometimes making contact and perhaps shorting and possibly blowing a fuse sometimes.

[Guest pja]

Sorry, with regards to the central locking, it's not remote. When I turn the key in the driver's door, only the driver's door locks/unlocks.

 

The single brake light at the top of the tailgate hasn't been working for quite some time and I haven't got round to fixing it yet. Am I right in thinking this has to be done by a Ford dealer or is this just Ford propaganda?

[NikpV]

The single brake light at the top of the tailgate hasn't been working for quite some time and I haven't got round to fixing it yet. Am I right in thinking this has to be done by a Ford dealer or is this just Ford propaganda?

 

 

this sounds more and more like broken wires in the loom especially if the other brake lights are now working. No reason you shouldn't have a go yourself others have done it - splice in new wire - either solder and heat shrink or more commonly using a crimp connector.

 

No ideas about the central locking atm if its not a fuse.

[Guest 3.5bullet]

97 VW 14B 205 AB SIEMANS (I think this is the engineering part no.?)

5108 152001 (not sure what this is)

 

 

From your discription I think the part you are describing is the central locking control unit under the front passenger seat? the part number you quote is close but not quite correct! the unit is prone to failure due to water ingress via the heater system or by the rear washer jet hose joint that fails, it would be good idea to check the condition of this unit? it is available from other scources cheaper than the price you have quoted!

[Masked Marauder]

They moved the CL unit to the bulkhead in 1997, so it won't be that.

 

I would check the CL from the passenger door. Does it work on all but the drivers door? If so that would suggest a broken wire in the door gaiter.

[Guest pja]

I would check the CL from the passenger door. Does it work on all but the drivers door? If so that would suggest a broken wire in the door gaiter.

 

It doesn't work from the passenger door either. When you try it on the driver's door, you do at least hear the motor operating, but nothing at all when trying from the passenger door.

 

NikpV, funny you mention the central locking module as that is what one of the service guys at Ford had suggested. I think he'd quoted it as being the thick end of

[NikpV]

but at the time it wasn't making any sense that the brake lights weren't working. Now that's been rectified, perhaps the problem has been moved on.

 

are you sure that problem has been solved? it sounds a little intermittent to me, unless the bulb has gone in the high level brake light I think you have a wiring problem between then tailgate and body which may be ok now but may fail/and or blow fuse again - it would be as well to check (unless bulb has gone)

 

It may also be worth checking the wiring in the drivers side rubber boot - it failure here can cause all sorts of problems, it wouldn't cost anything and only take half an hour or so to check see link below

 

examining wires in rubber boot

 

What happens when you try and open the car from the tailgate lock - does it actuate the cl (ps it wasn't me who mentioned the cl module - too expensive to point the finger here yet given the possibilities in the wiring atm).

 

As to reliability generally - some cars seem to suffer others are fine - the wiring for some is an issue however, whether its down do quality or poor installation I couldn't say. Make sure you have got all the fuses though, there are two main banks and some above as well.

[Guest 3.5bullet]

It was me that mentioned the central locking unit! going on the part number given and the description of the unit required, as for the unit being moved up onto the bulkhead? the part number starts with 97 VW..... hence my thought of it being the one under the seat and the fact that the Aspen model was discontinued in 98 :D it may help if the original poster told us what style of fuse panel he has as the central locking unit was added into the later version, a colleague of mine had this replaced on his 2001 model and the price quoted sounds about right for the replacement of the main fuse panel :D

[Guest 3.5bullet]

also try using the rear hatch lock to operate the central locking