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Thread: Brake light works sporatically

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Long Island NY
    Posts
    17

    Default Brake light works sporatically

    the other day, "Brake Light 1" flashes on the OBD and I see that one of my brake lights isnt working. I go to work the next morning, no messg on the OBD and both lights are working until I start driving a little, then the "brake light 1" flashes on the OBD again and once again the brake light is out. ???
    Last edited by jaz525i; 05-07-2008 at 08:28 PM.
    1993 525i 151k miles


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Olympia, WA
    Posts
    39

    Default

    Had the same error on my car a couple weeks ago, not sure if the number indicates which light it is, but for me it was the cyclops light above the trunk. Replaced it with a bulb of the same number and got the brake light circuit error... The PO had put incorrect and cheap bulbs in.

    The Osram-Sylvania website recommends 7506 or 7506LL for replacement brake lights, picked them up for $4 nearby and its all fixed.

    http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...lacementGuide/

    Anyway, I'd check / replace the bulbs and go from there. I read somewhere that the brake light switch can go bad too.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Quebec, Canada
    Posts
    608

    Default

    Top 3 Reasons that Jump to mind...

    1.) Brake Light Switch - Corroded or Lose Connection
    2.) Trunk Wiring Harness - Look for cuts or chaffing
    3.) Light Bulb Socket - Corroded Connector or Lose Connection


    BMW E34 1992 525i Touring

    RIP Touring...probably never going to drive you again...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Bethesda, MD
    Posts
    385

    Default

    EXACT same thing has been happened/is happening to me. Well, first I had my random fuse 5 blowouts (seemingly unrelated circuit) and immediately after that was resolved I got "1 Brake Light". When I stopped the car and restarted the message went away.. it comes on sporadically and I don't know why. I suspect the wrong bulbs have been installed as my high mount brake light has most definitely partially melted on the side, but that happened before I bought the car and everything has been working fine for over a year.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Wausau, WI
    Posts
    63

    Default

    Been chasing this for weeks. It's the plastic bulb holder on the tail lights. Poor design IMHO. The metal tabs break contact ...be carefully, they break if you try to bend them too much. Got a new one, but it's intermittantly failing too.

    Remove, try to bend the tab a little more, replace.
    Pat Washburn
    Wausau, WI
    1995 525iT

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