hi

my 03 plate focus just scraped throw the mot today

now i have a problem with the lights,nearly every time i press the brake pedel the side lights come on

any ideas or common faults?

cherrs john

 

Check for water ingress on the rear light clusters and their connectors/bulb holders.
If still no joy take out brake light bulbs and see if it fixes the issue, it's sounds like water ingress across either the light board tracks or connector etc, but 99.99% sure you'l find the problem at one of the rear lights.
tabetha

 

Deffo rear lights. either bulb holders or someone's put an incorrect bulb in there that's shorting across the terminals.

 

strange how you mention that as i just noticed after i bought a bulb from auto save and fitted it in rear passenger.

i knew there was a reason i dont shop there

cherrs john

 

yeah wrong bulb 100%.youve put a single filament bulb in instead of a double and its back feeding through the sidelight circuit

 

def no water or sing that there has ever been water anywhere nere the back lights

cherrs anyway

john

 

fraid not def twin filament bulbs in both

john

 

Have you taken both the rear bulbs out and seen if it still does it? If it has stopped, the bulbs are definately your problem! You could just unplug the holder that would probably be easier.

 

will give that a try 2moz

cherrs john

 

Im with the above with wrong bulbs, the fact that both are doing so as well, that or you have a wiring problem but doubt it!

How do you know the sidelights come on though, seen as they both share the same bulb and when the brake lights are on as they are brighter than the sides you woulden't be able to tell, or is it when you come off the brakes the sides come on?

Martin