Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

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bill hughes
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Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

Hi everyone the high level brake light on the tailgate of my xantia works but the 2 lower ones do not, I have checked the twin filament bulbs and they are ok, I am thinking that they must all work off the one switch on the pedal, does anyone have any suggestions please or had the same problem. many thanks for any help.
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by van ordinaire »

As the high level light works, the switch must be OK. Not over-impressed with these lamp units, reminiscent of MkIII Escort,which suffered from water ingress &, thus, poor connections. Not saying the same's true here but suggest you start by checking connections/continuity where the bulbs fit - then work back along the loom 'til you get to the point that the high level splits off.

I'm assuming there aren't separate fuses (which would be unusual) but don't have my manual or handbook conveniently to hand.
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& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
bill hughes
Posts: 229
Joined: 30 Jan 2013, 13:22
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x 2

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

Many thanks van ordinaire the fuse for the brake lights is the one for several other functions all of which work ok, I will try and trace the wiring back but will probably have to remove the rear end of the car to do this, wish me luck Cheers
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I don't have your VIN, but on a S2, they are on the same circuit. 2110 is your high level brake light. 212 & 214 are the stop lamp wires that feed back to the brake switch control (2100)

Each rear light cluster has a separate earth (M2630 & M2635) and the high level brake light also has a separate earth (M2110)

Xantia Brake.PNG
2110.PNG
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Marc
bill hughes
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x 2

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

Many thanks for the diagram Marc but it's all chinese music to me I've had too many problems with this car I think it's trying to tell me something, it's becoming non viable financially garages are too expensive.
thanks Bill
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Ok but it should help you understand the wiring. The power and connections and earth are fine to the third brake light (as you've said that is working), and given that the left and right brake lights have separate earth points, it is unlikely they will both be out. So I would check the positive wiring, especially the connector blocks to the lamp units and I certainly would double check the brake bulbs with a new one as when one fails the other generally also goes shortly after. It is not always easy to visually see broken filaments .
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Marc
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van ordinaire
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others:-
'96 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the "donor"
'99 Jeep Cherokee Orvis - the green one
'97 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the red one
'99 Cadillac Seville STS
'96 Cadillac Eldorado ETC
& numerous what might be described as abandoned projects!
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by van ordinaire »

Must admit that without a key I struggled a bit to positively identify all the components.

I thought we'd got beyond checking the bulbs BUT no harm in replacing them with known good ones (too bad they're the only twin filament bulbs on a Xantia- so you can't steal one from somewhere else, for test purposes.

I still don't immediately think about multi-pin connectors in this sort of basic component, but, yes, do check they are clean, a snug fit - & look carefully at the wires where they enter the connector. I would also look very carefully at what passes as bulbholders because, if they are anything like the units in the tailgate, there is plenty of scope for the bulbs not being secure &/or not making good contact. Only then, start crawling about in the back, tearing off trim, checking the integrity of the wiring &, in particular, any connections along the way, back to the point you know its good. Of course,if you can easily locate "the brake switch control" it might be easier to start there.
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club :cry:
'05 C15 :!:
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate [-o<
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3 :?
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS :|
& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
bill hughes
Posts: 229
Joined: 30 Jan 2013, 13:22
Location: West Sussex
My Cars: 1994 xantia 1.9 tdi sold on and still going strong 2ooo xantia 2.0hdi estate 1998 Renault megane 1.4
x 2

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

I have checked both bulbs with the battery and and a test rig and both filaments were lighting up ok, I will try the various checks that have been suggested, looking at the wiring in the tailgate it seems that the offside lamp unit feeds the nearside so if something is wrong in the o/s unit it would explain why both are not working, would a multimeter help ?
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van ordinaire
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Posts: 2537
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 14:45
Location: Live & work in London but weekend in Devon (or do I now live in Torbay & work in London?)
My Cars: Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club (quietly sleeping in a parallel universe)
'05 (yes, really) C15
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate
others:-
'96 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the "donor"
'99 Jeep Cherokee Orvis - the green one
'97 Jeep Cherokee Limited - the red one
'99 Cadillac Seville STS
'96 Cadillac Eldorado ETC
& numerous what might be described as abandoned projects!
x 405

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by van ordinaire »

A multimeter might help but to what extent depends on how comfortable you are using one. I certainly wouldn't buy one for this problem, as a test lamp will probably be just as effective.

I thought there were only rear (& reversing) lights in the tailgate - or is my short-term memory failing me?
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club :cry:
'05 C15 :!:
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate [-o<
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3 :?
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS :|
& the numerous "abandoned projects" #-o
bill hughes
Posts: 229
Joined: 30 Jan 2013, 13:22
Location: West Sussex
My Cars: 1994 xantia 1.9 tdi sold on and still going strong 2ooo xantia 2.0hdi estate 1998 Renault megane 1.4
x 2

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

Decided against using a multi meter, too technical I might blow the car up (umm not a bad idea) on the tailgate there are 2 rear lights which incorporate the stop lights, also the fog lights and reversing lights and 2 more rear lights and indicators on the body, so to speak, today I've checked all the block connectors male and female and they all seem to be ok but will make up a test lamp and give that a go, thanks for your reply
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by RichardW »

I think you might be chasing a fault which is not there....

It's a while since I had one, but IIRC only the outer clusters have brake function - the tailgate clutsers are tail / fog only - and that is what the wiring digram above implies. Check what happens if you put the fog lights on.....
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by GiveMeABreak »

That's correct and also the reversing lamps on the tailgate too.
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Marc
bill hughes
Posts: 229
Joined: 30 Jan 2013, 13:22
Location: West Sussex
My Cars: 1994 xantia 1.9 tdi sold on and still going strong 2ooo xantia 2.0hdi estate 1998 Renault megane 1.4
x 2

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

HI All I have been pulling the terminal blocks out of the drivers side tailgate one by one and checking what happens, there is a brown block with 2 wires and this puts the t/gate rear lights out, the yellow block with 3 wires puts all t/gate lights out ( rev. /fog / rear ) only h/level brake light on, the blue block with 4 wires puts all n/side t/gate lights out (rev / fog / rear ) I cant work this out from the wiring diagram so has anyone any ideas many thanks

Bill
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C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I only put the diagram up that shows the Braking circuit - each set of lights has a different circuit, so will get confusing.

2630 is the rear LH lamp unit on the body
2635 is the rear RH tail lamp on the body

So the 4 pin blue connectors are the brake lamps and these should only have 2 wires in use in the connector - The earth (yellow and green on both connectors) and the live (shown on the diagram as Grey on 2630, and white on 2635) So you want to be testing if there is current to the live wires when the brake switch is pressed. I would ignore the other connectors for now as that is just confusing things.

Having said this, the live wires for the brake lights are on 2 wires (212 & 214), but these do join the high level brake light (2110) wire as can be seen, and then the main wiring connection to the brake light switch.

So I would be looking to where the high level brake light joins the body brake lights and test the connections in that area to see if there is a junction box or join that is causing the issue that feeds the 2 left and right brake lights.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
bill hughes
Posts: 229
Joined: 30 Jan 2013, 13:22
Location: West Sussex
My Cars: 1994 xantia 1.9 tdi sold on and still going strong 2ooo xantia 2.0hdi estate 1998 Renault megane 1.4
x 2

Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi estate brake lights

Post by bill hughes »

Thanks Marc I will give it another go tomorrow.

Bill
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