Parking light ??

Post by **Zack** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:50 am

Are my parking lights in the front supposed to come on with the brake lights in the rear? Everytime I slow down for a stop sign the parking lights come on - doesn't seem right to me, but I'm new to the Minor game.

Post by **ferret76** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:06 am

That's definitely not supposed to happen. Is there a wire coming off your brake light switch that doesn't look like it is supposed to be there? Do they stay on or do they go off once the car has stopped? Might be a case of an uninsulated wire swinging forward under brakes and making the lights go on.
Are you sure it's not a Volvo, they seem to have there lights on all the time.

Post by **Luxobarge** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:55 pm

This could be caused by a faulty brake-light bulb, or one that is not fitted properly. If the brake light filament is "shorting" to the sidelight filament, it's possible for it to power up the whole side-light circuit when the brake light comes on.

Rare fault though....

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:26 pm

Yes - as above - it's very likely a faulty bulb. So - take one out - does it still do it ? Replace that one and take the other out - still doing it ? Then it must be a wiring problem - or a fault inside a rear light where the contacts have fallen together.

Post by **d_harris** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:36 pm

As I thought. Either that or the wiring is shorting. Either way, whip the light units out, clean up and make sure the wiring is in good nick and that should sort it!

Post by **Mogwai** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:07 pm

could be a bad earth on the rear lights

Post by **Zack** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:34 pm

Luxobarge wrote:This could be caused by a faulty brake-light bulb, or one that is not fitted properly. If the brake light filament is "shorting" to the sidelight filament, it's possible for it to power up the whole side-light circuit when the brake light comes on.

Rare fault though....

That was the problem exactly! I just replaced the bulb and no more funny business with the sidelights. Thanks for all the help - I had no idea what was going on!

Post by **Luxobarge** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:39 am

Zack wrote:
Luxobarge wrote:This could be caused by a faulty brake-light bulb, or one that is not fitted properly. If the brake light filament is "shorting" to the sidelight filament, it's possible for it to power up the whole side-light circuit when the brake light comes on.

Rare fault though....

That was the problem exactly! I just replaced the bulb and no more funny business with the sidelights. Thanks for all the help - I had no idea what was going on!

Nice one - well done!! Only too pleased to help, thanks for letting us know, it's nice to know when you get one right!!