Brake Light Fail - BMW Forum

BEX · 03-11-2004, 07:44 PM

Keep getting a 1 Brake Light Fail warning on the check control computer but the light is working. Any ideas as to why it keeps coming on?

Autotechnica · 03-11-2004, 07:46 PM

Do you have aftermarket brake lights? If you do, they are known to cause the check control to come on.

Bry

Furious · 03-11-2004, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Autotechnica@Mar 11 2004, 08:26 PM
Do you have aftermarket brake lights? If you do, they are known to cause the check control to come on.

Bry

just for a side note, if anyone has really inspected aftermarket lights you can see the quality of the metal used to conduct the electicity is really crappy and also its usually painted in a primer colour grey,
the paint acts as a non-conductor and the metal has a tendency to break or corrode.

if these lights are OEM check the connectors for corrosion.

bitcore · 03-12-2004, 05:18 PM

I've never had this come up on my OBC untill one of my lights burnt out and I replaced it with one at NAPA auto parts. Now it comes on randomly, but very sparringly. MAYBE once a week.

BEX · 03-12-2004, 05:56 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I havent had to replace any of the bulbs because they work. I'll take em all out and then clean up the connectors and monitor it a while and report back!

Thanks a million guys.

BEX
1992 E36 320i 4dr

Autotechnica · 03-13-2004, 09:05 AM

The less computer gizmo warning lights, the better, less to go wrong.

I've also installed aftermarket lights and Furious is correct. The metal contacts they use are pure garbage. I've had problems with several of the bulbs not comming on at all! This may eventually blow a fuse. So avoid cheap imitations.

Bry

bitcore · 03-13-2004, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Autotechnica@Mar 13 2004, 11:45 AM
This may eventually blow a fuse.

I don’t see where no current draw (IE: lights do not illuminate because no or little to no electricity is flowing) can cause a fuse, which is designed to stop an overflow of current, to blow. Yes, if the light casing is poorly designed and a short occurs, then yes a fuse will most likely be blown. Yes, avoid cheep imitations to prevent silly crap like this happening