C5 X7 Tourer failed LED high brake light.

[bigblackfalco]

Those of you that have replaced the 3rd LED brake light, what was the cause of failure please?

[wheeler]

I just noticed that mines has stopped working the other day, not got round to investigating it yet though. Are they a common failure on the X7 ?
The mk1 estates middle brake light used to fail due to water ingress.

[GiveMeABreak]

You can open these up (even though they are sold only as a new unit), You will probably find that there is a corroded terminal that causes the problem - a bit of wiring and solder will usually cure it.

[xantia_v6]

How about broken wires in the harness between the body and tailgate?

[myglaren]

I have read elsewhere that there is a resistor that burns out.

[bigblackfalco]

You can open these up (even though they are sold only as a new unit), You will probably find that there is a corroded terminal that causes the problem - a bit of wiring and solder will usually cure it.

I guess no harm in trying a repair. I'm a bit good at prying things apart and soldering bits of wire in .... done some of this on motorcycle instrument PCB tracks.

I'll take a look at the wiring between body and boot hinge too.

[bigblackfalco]

I have read elsewhere that there is a resistor that burns out.

If it's nothing obvious like corrosion and a simple jumper wire won't fix, then it'll be going in the bin I'm afraid.

[GiveMeABreak]

The wiring on the X7 tourer is far better and more robust than its predecessor on the MK I / II with the dodgy tailgate windows electrics and the like. As far as I know the majority of cases of these seem to be water ingress into the unit itself (barring what Steve says about the resistor of course) - but do let us know the outcome of your labours as it will be helpful to others in future

[wheeler]

Well i just sorted mines, was a broken wire at the NS loom just where it exits the rubber sleeve & changes to the fabric tape.

[GiveMeABreak]

Saved dismantling the unit then - pays to check the easier possibilities first.

[wheeler]

Cant beat a free fix.
A quck buzz with a power probe proved the light unit was ok without having to take it out of the spoiler. Its not a great design, it changes from the semi rigid rubber sleeve to soft tape, an ideal brakage point.

[Richard_C]

I had troubles with mine and various fixes were at best intermittent. Some corrosion inside the light itself and seemingly dodgy connections on the way to it. After a couple of goes I opened up the light, soldered a lead directly to the pcb to bypass all the pin connectors, drilled through side and ran it back past all the connectors to rejoin the original wiring in an easy reach place half way down the tailgate. Sealed the light up again. LEDs so polarity matters. No trouble after that (but sold it now). Might help next time.

[van ordinaire]

Never ceases to amaze me how often you see cars with one or two LED's out - so much for them lasting 10,000 years, or whatever!

The one on my 1st STS failed, due to water ingress (so common, there's a firm in the US that supply recon. units on exchange) - I was actually quite pleased, it must be best part of 3' long & at eye-level for the driver behind, it used to embarrass me driving in traffic, especially at night. Idea was to get a cheap one each year, to go in the back window, for the MoT but, of course, in the event, I didn't have to bother.

[bigblackfalco]

Well i just sorted mines, was a broken wire at the NS loom just where it exits the rubber sleeve & changes to the fabric tape.

I can see my wires poking through here too! Don't look broken externally.

[wheeler]

I had to pull all the tape off to find the break, there is only 2 wires in there.