High level brake light

YorkshirePotter · 20th February 2023, 21:23

My 2.0 diesel Conny has failed it's MOT and one of the things mentioned (whether it's a fail in itself I don't know) is that the high level brake light isn't working. It's probably a hoary old issue but finding it amongst the other stuff is v. difficult!
Is it an MOT failure to have both regular brake lights working but not the high level? And is there a fuse for the HL that can be checked or does it always mean a replacement unit?

Thanks in advance.

SD1too · 21st February 2023, 07:39

Hello Paul,

Unless the high level brake light fault is listed as an advisory on the paperwork you were given then it is a failure in its own right.

There isn't a fuse for the high level brake light. It is fed separately from the Lighting Switch Module via a choke (an electrical "filter").

Failure to illuminate doesn't always mean a replacement unit. A connection in the circuit could be at fault. You can check by exposing the lamp's connections and placing your multimeter across them to see if 12v is indicated. Alternatively you could remove the lamp and test it directly across the battery but make sure that you observe the correct polarity.

Simon

ceetdm · 21st February 2023, 12:47

Many MOTs ago my high level break light failed, friendly MOT guy said I can remove it and it will be a pass, so I did. Replaced soon after, been fine ever since.

Tommy :-)

20th February 2023, 21:23	#1
YorkshirePotter Regular poster Rover 75 2.0 CDTi, Rover 75 2.5 V6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Keighley Posts: 43 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	High level brake light My 2.0 diesel Conny has failed it's MOT and one of the things mentioned (whether it's a fail in itself I don't know) is that the high level brake light isn't working. It's probably a hoary old issue but finding it amongst the other stuff is v. difficult! Is it an MOT failure to have both regular brake lights working but not the high level? And is there a fuse for the HL that can be checked or does it always mean a replacement unit? Thanks in advance.

21st February 2023, 07:39	#2
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,420 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	Hello Paul, Unless the high level brake light fault is listed as an advisory on the paperwork you were given then it is a failure in its own right. There isn't a fuse for the high level brake light. It is fed separately from the Lighting Switch Module via a choke (an electrical "filter"). Failure to illuminate doesn't always mean a replacement unit. A connection in the circuit could be at fault. You can check by exposing the lamp's connections and placing your multimeter across them to see if 12v is indicated. Alternatively you could remove the lamp and test it directly across the battery but make sure that you observe the correct polarity. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce. Last edited by SD1too; 21st February 2023 at 07:41..

21st February 2023, 12:47	#3
ceetdm Loves to post Rover 75 CDTi Manual Saloon + Rover 75 CDTi Auto Saloon Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 417 Thanks: 170 Thanked 42 Times in 33 Posts	Many MOTs ago my high level break light failed, friendly MOT guy said I can remove it and it will be a pass, so I did. Replaced soon after, been fine ever since. Tommy :-) __________________ Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Contemporary SE +pack