Sab

Whenever I wash my 87 S4 my brake light warning light goes crazy... Turns on , goes off when I brake, stays on when I brake, I resett the warning, it comes back on...
It all goes away after a couple of days.
I bought new tail lights, have new bulbs and the wiring looks like new. I drowned it in DW40, no changes.
Any suggestions?
cheers,
Sab.
<img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Garry

Believe it or not, I had a similar problem that ended up being the "third" brake light bulb. The element was broken and was making partial contact. I wonder when you wash you car, if you move the rear hatch. Try replacing this bulb. In addition only use the correct bulbs. Be careful about after-market ones. Sometimes they use more or less current, add a little moisture and you go over the line.

<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

WallyP

First, the normal action for the brake lamp warning light is:
Goes on every time you crank the car.
Goes off as soon as you touch the brake pedal.

The bulb check unit checks and compares current draw on the left and right circuits. Sounds as if you are getting soapy water into the brake light circuit on one side and changing the current draw on that side slightly.

You could possibly cut your search in half by washing only one side of the car and see if the light goes crazy. Then wash the other side and see if it goes crazy there - might tell you which side to start checking.