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Spoiler brake light not working - FIXED

1790 Views 16 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  VeeForty Deetoo
Hi all,
My third brake light is not working however the other two brake lights are working fine. Has anyone had this issue before and managed to resolve it? I'm assuming it's the led which has gone but I could be wrong and maybe it is something else. Any pointers will be hugely appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike
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Whereabouts are you ?? Don’t know what the issue is but I have a spare spoiler with working brake light you could try if you are local to me ???
Whereabouts are you ?? Don’t know what the issue is but I have a spare spoiler with working brake light you could try if you are local to me ???
Hi mate, I'm down in Somerset, near to Midsomer Norton. I don't suppose you live anywhere near here by any remote chance do you? 😅 Cheers
No, unfortunately I’m up in the north west !!
Good luck !!!
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No, unfortunately I’m up in the north west !!
Good luck !!!
Nevermind, thanks anyway!
It would be very unusual for the entire lamp to fail, as it consists of several LEDs and normally they fail individually, so that the lamp still partially illuminates.

I'm not at home ATM, so don't have access to my car handbook or other files, but check whether the third stop lamp is fused separately.

Otherwise, some old fashioned fault tracing may be called for. Disconnect the lamp and use a multimeter. Have you got voltage at the cable end when the brake pedal is depressed? If you supply current to the lamp from a test cable, does it work, etc?

Some diagnostic tools with actuation programming can short cut the testing. E.g. they will activate each stop lamp on command and allow you to test them.
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It would be very unusual for the entire lamp to fail, as it consists of several LEDs and normally they fail individually, so that the lamp still partially illuminates.

I'm not at home ATM, so don't have access to my car handbook or other files, but check whether the third stop lamp is fused separately.

Otherwise, some old fashioned fault tracing may be called for. Disconnect the lamp and use a multimeter. Have you got voltage at the cable end when the brake pedal is depressed? If you supply current to the lamp from a test cable, does it work, etc?

Some diagnostic tools with actuation programming can short cut the testing. E.g. they will activate each stop lamp on command and allow you to test them.
Thanks, that's a good point re the LEDs usually failing individually. I'll do some testing as suggested - I have a feeling there isn't a separate fuse for this light but will double check. The only question now is how to actually remove the light fitting from the spoiler. I wonder if the whole spoiler will need to be removed.. If you or anyone else has any advice w around this it would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
Thanks, that's a good point re the LEDs usually failing individually. I'll do some testing as suggested - I have a feeling there isn't a separate fuse for this light but will double check. The only question now is how to actually remove the light fitting from the spoiler. I wonder if the whole spoiler will need to be removed.. If you or anyone else has any advice w around this it would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
As I say, I'm away from home (and the car) but I suspect it is a case of having to remove the spoiler. It will undoubtedly be secured from inside the rear hatch, so probably a case of removing the window surround or upper trim to access the fixings. Plastic trim removal tools are useful for that, although with care and placing masking tape and/or card in appropriate places around the trim edges, it should be possible to prize it off without leaving any marks. If there are any caps over screw heads or similar, they should be obvious, otherwise its usually a case of prizing the panel off of its retaining clips and snapping them back in on replacement.

Someone who has previously removed the spoiler may know better then me though!
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As I say, I'm away from home (and the car) but I suspect it is a case of having to remove the spoiler. It will undoubtedly be secured from inside the rear hatch, so probably a case of removing the window surround or upper trim to access the fixings. Plastic trim removal tools are useful for that, although with care and placing masking tape and/or card in appropriate places around the trim edges, it should be possible to prize it off without leaving any marks. If there are any caps over screw heads or similar, they should be obvious, otherwise its usually a case of prizing the panel off of its retaining clips and snapping them back in on replacement.

Someone who has previously removed the spoiler may know better then me though!
Thank you very much - I appreciate your help. I'm going to give it a go this weekend so hopefully should be able to figure out what's going on. Cheers
Hi Muchiti, I have the same problem high level brake light does not come on (at all). Only discovered this last night so was just searching this site for suggestions. Was just wondering if you managed to figure out what your problem was and how to get access to the LED Brake light?
Hi Muchiti, I have the same problem high level brake light does not come on (at all). Only discovered this last night so was just searching this site for suggestions. Was just wondering if you managed to figure out what your problem was and how to get access to the LED Brake light?
Hi PeT3r, I've only just seen your question. You may have already sorted the light but I have only just got around to looking into it properly since I last wrote on here. I tested the rear brake light wiring and could see that power was getting through to the light so I assume it's the light unit itself which is faulty. I've ordered a replacement from eBay and will fit it when it turns up.

I used this guide to access the light unit connector which is where I tested for power - P2 Spoiler

Cheers
Hi PeT3r, I've only just seen your question. You may have already sorted the light but I have only just got around to looking into it properly since I last wrote on here. I tested the rear brake light wiring and could see that power was getting through to the light so I assume it's the light unit itself which is faulty. I've ordered a replacement from eBay and will fit it when it turns up.

I used this guide to access the light unit connector which is where I tested for power - P2 Spoiler

Cheers
All sorted! The used part from eBay arrived and fitting took around 30 minutes. I followed the instructions linked above (P2 spoiler install) and encountered no issues, although I was very careful not to drop any of the bolts into the spoiler. It's only a small fix but the rear high level break light is there for a reason.
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All sorted! The used part from eBay arrived and fitting took around 30 minutes. I followed the instructions linked above (P2 spoiler install) and encountered no issues, although I was very careful not to drop any of the bolts into the spoiler. It's only a small fix but the rear high level break light is there for a reason.
Hi Muchiti, thanks for the update, sorry, I have only just read this and no I haven't fixed it yet. Its on the to do list! will take a look at the Spoiler install instructions you mention. Out of interest, when you say you tested the rear break light wiring did you simply put a multimeter (Or equivalent) on the wires feeding the break light and when the breaks are applied confirm a voltage is present?
Hi Muchiti, thanks for the update, sorry, I have only just read this and no I haven't fixed it yet. Its on the to do list! will take a look at the Spoiler install instructions you mention. Out of interest, when you say you tested the rear break light wiring did you simply put a multimeter (Or equivalent) on the wires feeding the break light and when the breaks are applied confirm a voltage is present?
Hi PeT3r, that's exactly it. I had to ask someone to press the brakes whilst I tested the socket. Best of luck with it 👍
Hi PeT3r, that's exactly it. I had to ask someone to press the brakes whilst I tested the socket. Best of luck with it 👍
Thanks for the info. Really helpful. Gives me something to go on before I take things apart
I had to ask someone to press the brakes whilst I tested the socket. Best of luck with it 👍
Baseball bat on the pedal, wedged down by the seat
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