Xantia Brake Lights

Gnerk · Unread post by **Gnerk** » 05 Oct 2009, 21:25

Hi,

It's the Xant Sensation '98 TD again.

Drove into work this morning and one of my colleagues comments that NONE of my brake lights were working (that'd be ND, OS and the middle boot light then...)

Looks like the brake pedal switch to me - is this a common failure on Xantia's? Can't see the part on GSF...

Thanks,

Ian.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 05 Oct 2009, 21:54

I can't say its a common problem as I've never heard of such a failure before, in case you're not aware the switch is directly behind the pedal rubber.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 06 Oct 2009, 08:27

i belive the cause of brake light switch faliure is mostly down to people sitting at junctions/traffic lights with there foot on the brake pedel,

although as Richard says i have not had the fit a new switch to a XANTIA yet,

most brake light switches cant handel 42W pluss what ever the centre lamp draws through them for a prolonged period and this can melt the internal plastic components,

regards malcolm

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 06 Oct 2009, 08:37

citronut wrote:i belive the cause of brake light switch faliure is mostly down to people sitting at junctions/traffic lights with there foot on the brake pedel

For us drivers of autos, that's what we must do! It does not seem to cause that much of a problem and the brake lights must, by nature, spend a lot more time on than in a manual car.

Is yours an estate Gnerk? If so, I'd be suspecting a problem with a broken/shorted wire in the rubber concertinas that carry wires into the tailgate. It may have chafed, shorted and popped the fuse that protects this circuit. Off-hand I cannot rela which fuse it is. Alternatively, a bulb may have gone short-circuit to give the same symptoms.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 06 Oct 2009, 15:06

CitroJim wrote:
citronut wrote:i belive the cause of brake light switch faliure is mostly down to people sitting at junctions/traffic lights with there foot on the brake pedel
For us drivers of autos, that's what we must do!

Eh? Blinding the person behind with the glare from your brake lights

what's that thing down by your side for? I see a need to offer a lesson in driving an auto

Xantidote · Unread post by **Xantidote** » 06 Oct 2009, 16:21

If the brake lights switch proves unable to cope with 42+ watts, then one option would be to fit LED stop/tail bulb replacements @ £15/pair

Martin

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 06 Oct 2009, 17:35

DickieG wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
citronut wrote:i belive the cause of brake light switch faliure is mostly down to people sitting at junctions/traffic lights with there foot on the brake pedel
For us drivers of autos, that's what we must do!
Eh? Blinding the person behind with the glare from your brake lights what's that thing down by your side for? I see a need to offer a lesson in driving an auto

And the thing by your side has the advantage of operating on the front wheels, perfect for a front wheel drive auto.......

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 06 Oct 2009, 22:37

I nearly always sit at junctions with my foot on the brake, try not doing in an Xm auto let alone a manual!

Unless your someone who abuses the clutch and holds the bite or wants to faff on at every junction with the Xm handbrake then so be it. Id rather run the risk of blowing a bulb

Though ive always done it, brake lights are hardly dazzling in any case, well not during the day anyway.

If im going to be stopped for a few minutes or on a steep hill and not in an Xm then ill use my handbrake, but otherwise i use the foot brake.

Chris.

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 06 Oct 2009, 23:06

Well I guess in some cases it is advantageous to keep the brake lights on whilst stationary, such as at the back of a queue as a warning to approaching drivers, but when they pull up behind you I think it's courteous to release the foot brake, especially at night, as personally I do find modern brake lights can be really dazzling, enough in fact to hurt my eyes.

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 06 Oct 2009, 23:08

DickieG wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
citronut wrote:i belive the cause of brake light switch faliure is mostly down to people sitting at junctions/traffic lights with there foot on the brake pedel
For us drivers of autos, that's what we must do!
Eh? Blinding the person behind with the glare from your brake lights what's that thing down by your side for? I see a need to offer a lesson in driving an auto

Are you an instructor?

jmd · Unread post by **jmd** » 07 Oct 2009, 00:46

Check your bulbs, & clean the terminals. I had a similar problem a few weeks ago- no reversing lights, no brake lights, and the indicator on the dashboard showing that my rear fog lights were on, when they weren't working at all. I checked the bulbs, which were all in working order. I then cleaned the terminals, and gave them a spray of Silicone Oil & all is fine since.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 07 Oct 2009, 06:31

ACTIVE8 wrote:
DickieG wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
For us drivers of autos, that's what we must do!
Eh? Blinding the person behind with the glare from your brake lights what's that thing down by your side for? I see a need to offer a lesson in driving an auto
Are you an instructor?

Might be

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 07 Oct 2009, 07:21

I agree with the concensus that it is unlikely to be your brake ligth switch. The reason is i have worked at GSF for about 3 years in total and have never been asked for a Xantia brake light switch ever. We come across all the common faults and i like Jim suspect a wiring fault somewhere on the loom. Would they be wired on a series circuit? if so then wouldnt one break / split drop the whole circuit?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Oct 2009, 08:39

DickieG wrote:
ACTIVE8 wrote:
DickieG wrote: Eh? Blinding the person behind with the glare from your brake lights what's that thing down by your side for? I see a need to offer a lesson in driving an auto
Are you an instructor?
Might be

I'm thinking a bit of education for me might be very beneficial Richard

Funny how I never really thought about what I was doing until now. I'm lazy in an auto. The selector goes to D and there it stays unless I need to go backwards. I never even considered dropping it into N at traffic lights until now

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 07 Oct 2009, 08:39

unlikely to be brake light switch

nor the fuse (cause 2 fuses are connected like front left & rear right and front right & rear left).
I keep my foot on the brake pedal when necessary, at traffic lights, uphill stops and etc. 8) Switch is operating perfectly

.

So, Gnerk did you check other lights of the tailgate? Reverse, fog and aux brake. I guess the answer is inside the rubber outlet (tailgate <-> body).