High Level Stop Light stopped working

[mickeydread1122]

hie guys the high level stop light on my Peugeot 406 HDI estate X reg has suddenly stopped working.i took it off and tested directly via the battery and its working however connecting it back its not and im completely dumbfounded.I tested the wiring with a multimeter and it seems there is no voltage to the wires but i know its fuse is linked with the rear LH stop light but that 1 is working.is it possible for me to bridge the wiring with any of the rear brake light without overloading the fuse on the circuit.

[Doggy]

So long as you don't mix up the connections, it can't hurt to link it to the stop light that's on the same fuse. Not sure how you tested it, but you could just as easily be missing the earth from the h/l lamp as the live.

You wont overload it - stop lamp's 21W / 1.75A, h/l lamp will be multiple 5W lamps, say 6 = 30W / 2.5A making 4.25A total. Fuse can't be less than 5A. and they only work intermittently.

Not had any experience on this with 406's but on many cars the culprit can be the loom where it flexes at the door hinges - I've patched at least half a dozen of these over the years.

[mickeydread1122]

thanks Dogslife mate i will try it tomorrow and bridge the high level stop light with the left side rear stop light as according to haynes manual and peugeot handbook they are on the same fuse No F11 which is 10amps.but i will check the earth as you suggested first but if that fails then bridging is the solution

[mickeydread1122]

I have bridged the high level stop light with the rear left side brake light and its working perfectly well and hopefully there won't be an overload on the wiring circuit as both use the same 10amp fuse link.
thanks for the advice Dogslife.

[Doggy]

Welcome - well done for sorting it

[roton600]

Hi,

I had the same problem...it was a bad earth...i had power to the brake light when checked the plug straight to earth..so cut the earth wire crimped on a connector and attached to a bolt which is near by and all works perfectly now.

hope that is clear.

[406silverhdi]

i have a 2000 x plate estate

same thing happened, it was the wire in the hinge had worn. Take the black grommet between the car and boot lid off, and inspect the wires

manipulating these wires made it come back, i just soldered an extra bit of wire in to make it a little bit longer (this was also much easier than just repairing what was there)

I seemed to remember spraying wd40 in there helped make the job easier, cant remember how, but i remember struggling for ages THEN getting the wd40 in and it made something eaiser!

[philipcook]

It is just as likely to be damaged wires in the flexible bit between car body and boot lid as a blown bulb - or are they led's? It was with my 10 year old 406 and this was my procedure:-
1. open boot lid and remove 4 x black bolts with CK driver T30 bit.
2. lay the high brake light unit - with rear washer nozzle - onto car roof.
3. remove earth lead and bolt.
4. wiggle the top rubber upwards and pull wires downwards to give a bit of room to work on the wires.
5. pull out the lower rubber flexi-tube and cut away downwards to expose the wires and washer tube.
5. as well as the washer tube, there is a fat black multi-core earth wire, a green wire and a white wire. My earth was 90% severed and my green wire was completely severed.
6. repair wiring. I inserted suitable wiring with connector blocks to make it all longer and easier to work with.
7. protect this wiring as well as possible to prevent fraying against the metal. I used plastic flexi-tube, cut longways and secured with plastic tape.
8. refit everything in reverse.
BUT at each stage check that the light still works!!
Phil.

[Busman]

Just had this on my estate. It was the traditional broken wire in the tailgate flexi loom. But the hi level stop light wires on my 52 reg rapier went down the off side of the boot, there being wires both sides.
Just in case it helps anyone else.

[Moose]

Just finally looked at my 110 estate brake light, same as above sorted a previous bodged repair in the wiring, now sorted happy days
Thanks for the forum info pointing me in the right direction

Moose