High level break light turns itself on

[Carole N]

A neighbour has just told me that my high-level brake light is on. This has happened before. It just seems to come on, on its own, randomly. It happened last winter as well. Does anybody know how I can fix this please? It’s a 1999 1.8 saloon.

[squire]

Not 100% sure but I think your brake light switch is failing, if you're lucky you may be able to reseat it, but it is very awkward to get to as it's at the top of the brake pedal. Check to see if your brake lights in the cluster are on too.

[Carole N]

Thank you squire. Is the cluster the rear brake lights? They’re not on.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Carole N

... my high-level brake light is on. It just seems to come on, on its own, randomly. It happened last winter as well.

Originally Posted by Carole N

Is the cluster the rear brake lights? They’re not on.

Hello Carole,

I've looked at the wiring diagram for 1999. Can you ask an assistant to press the brake pedal (with the ignition on) whilst you check that the NS and OS brake lights are working normally?

At the moment I cannot see how the high level brake light can operate without those in the standard light units illuminating as well.

Simon

[Carole N]

Thank you Simon,
I will do that. I seem to remember doing that last time now I come to think of it. It just seems very odd. On that occasion the brake lights were working fine but the high-level brake light would come on when it got dark and go off in the daytime almost as if there was a sensor in it! I’ll check by pressing the brake pedal in the morning with a friend watching at the back as you suggest. Thanks for your advice.

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by Carole N

Thank you Simon,
I will do that. I seem to remember doing that last time now I come to think of it. It just seems very odd. On that occasion the brake lights were working fine but the high-level brake light would come on when it got dark and go off in the daytime almost as if there was a sensor in it! I’ll check by pressing the brake pedal in the morning with a friend watching at the back as you suggest. Thanks for your advice.

Just out of curiosity, do you have a self dimming centre mirror?

macafee2

[Carole N]

No macafee2.

[squire]

Originally Posted by squire

Not 100% sure but I think your brake light switch is failing, if you're lucky you may be able to reseat it, but it is very awkward to get to as it's at the top of the brake pedal. Check to see if your brake lights in the cluster are on too.

Hi Carole,
The cluster is where the rear lights, indicators, reversing lights and brake lights are.
Follow Simons advice about checking the brake lights, as I agree that they would most likely be on too.

You could try doing a search using the Google search bar, it might throw some ideas up. When mine went it was the brake light switch at fault, it's a horrible, awkward job to change as you have to look right up at the top of the brake pedal, there's not much room for getting hands in and shining a torch to see with. A word of advice, if you do have to have a new brake light switch get one from Rimmers or make sure it's a genuine Rover/MG part, the ones off ebay just don't work, as I found out the hard way!

Martyn

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Carole N

I’ll check by pressing the brake pedal in the morning with a friend watching at the back as you suggest.

Any news Carole?

Simon

[Carole N]

Hello Simon,
Nothing to report yet I’m afraid. I went out to the car today but unfortunately there wasn’t anyone available to help press the pedal. The high-level brake light was still on. I was very tempted to go out to it by myself tonight and press brake pedal because I thought it might light up the surrounding bushes et cetera in the dark if the rear lights were coming on. But it’s very windy here, 55 mph, and surrounded by trees so I chickened out – for now. Hopefully I’ll be able to test the brake pedal/brake lights tomorrow and will post what happens.
Thanks
Carole