Chucksta

Hi everyone

I just noticed that when my engine is off, i noticed a red light coming from the brake light on the spoiler.

It is the brake light on the spoiler that pops up at 120km/h. It is the right most section that stays on.

Is this normal?????? or bad wiring????

thanks

Chucksta

Riad

That doesn't sound right to me... mine don't do that. Sounds like bad wiring, did you install one yourself?

Won't that happen if the polarity is reversed?

Juan

When the key is on the high mounted brake light has a "keep alive" voltage. It may be that some of the bulbs are out and the few left have to take up all of the keep alive voltage.

The keep alive voltage is a hold over from the very first electronic cruise control design, Ford in the sixties. It's purpose is to be certain the brake application is detected by the cruise control electronics. IF you have cruise control you may notice it doesn't work if the higher wattage OEM bulbs (W5W) are not used and all of them work.

If by chance you have switched to LED bulbs this will definitely be a problem. In order to use LEDs in my high mounted brake lights I installed a minature 12 volt relay with the normally closed contacts connecting a 20 watts halogen across the circuit. With 12 volts (brakes) applied the relay picks up and opens the halogen circuit and only the LEDs illuminate.

Patrick

That's odd. My LED's work just fine with no relay.

Juan

Didn't say the LEDs didn't work, they just don't draw enough current to allow the cruise control to be enabled. Cruise control system "thinks" the brakes are applied.

Patrick

OK then, my cruise works fine with the LED's and no relay.

Chucksta

so is it normal? or should i chuck a wobbly to the dealer??