Brake lights on permanently, why?

[cotty]

I admit to knowing very little when it comes to fixing auto electrical problems. I understand electrics but not how to solve a problem when it arises.

Anyway I had a brake light fail, very easy to replace, picked up a bulb from Halford ,popped the cover off and changed the bulb. I now have both brake lights on permenantly. I think I used the right bulb picked it out using the little flip chart. Any ideas why this is happening, how to fix

Car is BMW 325I touring E30 1992

Cheers

Cotty

[animal]

Fuse problem?

[cotty]

If the fuse has failed then surely no power will be sent to the lights and hence they will not be on.

[agent006]

Sounds like the wrong bulb, take both out and check they're identical. Some have an offset bayonet and are only supposed to go in one way.

>> Edited by agent006 on Wednesday 13th April 12:37

[father ted]

.....and post bulb replacement,if the brake lights are still on......take a look at the brake light actuation switch that is positioned just above the brake pedal......you will probably see two female push fit connectors on it.....remove them both.....and if the lights go out you may have a shorted brake light switch.

[Hughesie2]

Take ya foot off the brake

[cotty]

agent006 said:

Sounds like the wrong bulb, take both out and check they're identical. Some have an offset bayonet and are only supposed to go in one way.

The old bulb did look the same as the new one but I will double check

[castex]

Hi,

I had this very thing on my own E30 325 touring. It's a switch just under the light switch. Above the brake pedal, like the man says. The nice BMW man in Italy sprayed the switch with a can of something that might have been WD-quaranta and the lights worked for another year or so before I had the switch changed.

Sorry if this is all a little vague, but don't bother changing any more bulbs.

[M3 Mitch]

Just for good troubleshooting form, you might want to take the light bulb you just installed out, then see if the other side brake light is on. If so, it's the switch above the brake pedal as previously stated. If not, this is interesting, I don't know of any way you could get this to happen. On BMW I think the brake lights only work with the ignition on, BTW, but maybe I dont recall correctly or it may be different in Europe and the US.

Very likely it is the switch and your replacing the bulb was coincidental.

[cotty]

Sorry its been a while getting back to you, been away on business and not been able to look at the car

M3 Mitch said:

Just for good troubleshooting form, you might want to take the light bulb you just installed out, then see if the other side brake light is on. If so, it's the switch above the brake pedal as previously stated.

Tried this and the other light was still one so must be the switch.

The local BMW garage advised that the switch is only £8 so might as well replace it. I orderd one as they did not have it in stock and will hopefully get this sorted next weekend.

Thanks all for your hints and tips

>> Edited by cotty on Tuesday 3rd May 14:12