Focus brake lights always on!

AtreuS · 14 Jan 2008 at 18:09

I picked the gf up a few mins ago and got flashed by someone on the way back. Seems my brake lights are always on ( when i turn my lights onto anything other than off ). In the lights off position the brake lights work when the brake is applied BUT the main headlights come on as well!

Obviously there is a short or something somewhere... rather than goto a garage and get charged £20 for something that may be simple to sort, has anyone got any ideas? My thoughts are a dodgy bulb or a dodgy fuse.... i know naff all about cars though

Its a 2001 y plate focus collection 1.8 Zetec 3 door.

Thanks.

Conscript · 14 Jan 2008 at 18:12

Headlight/brake light wiring sounds like its become seriously messed up.

So braking with lights off results in flashing the main beam?

The Edge · 14 Jan 2008 at 18:13

Have you just changed the bulbs?

could be in the wrong way around.

AtreuS · 14 Jan 2008 at 18:15

Well yeah but it cant just happen by itself surely? maybe ive got car-rats! :eek:

I had 2 bulbs changed just before xmass but they have been fine since. We went to ireland and did about 500 miles all in all over xmass.

Braking when the lights are turned off results in the brake lights working and the main headlights coming on with what appears to be dipped brightness.

The Edge · 14 Jan 2008 at 18:25

I'd definatley try turning the bulbs round.

Dogbreath · 14 Jan 2008 at 19:11

First take the bulbs out, check if pressing brake pedal turns headlamps on. If it does, fault is in wiring. If not, problem caused by one of the two bulbs. Fit each one back and test after fitting to narrow it down.

In the style of Yoda: Not rocket science it is.

agw_01 · 14 Jan 2008 at 19:45

Could be a dodgy earth.

Fords of older years were known for this kind of thing

cyborg · 14 Jan 2008 at 19:55

Coincidentally there was a focus infront of me last night with only one tail light working, and when he was braking, there were no brake lights, rather the other tail light came on. Bad wiring in focus or just coincidence?

Dogbreath · 15 Jan 2008 at 13:15

cyborg said:
Coincidentally there was a focus infront of me last night with only one tail light working, and when he was braking, there were no brake lights, rather the other tail light came on. Bad wiring in focus or just coincidence?

That's a dodgy earth, Ford wrote the book on them

rickchild · 15 Jan 2008 at 14:18

agw_01 said:
Could be a dodgy earth.

Fords of older years were known for this kind of thing

Seconded.

Might be an idea to pull the connections from the rear light blocks in and out a few times to clean them up, had this problem on my Golf due to corroded connections which was sorted out this way.

Phil W · 15 Jan 2008 at 14:23

Quite possibly a nackered relay.

Can you hear any clicking in the cabin when your driving, applying the brakes etc?

Its common on Peugeot 206's for the relays to nacker up and make all the lights play silly beggars, could be worth looking at.

AtreuS · 15 Jan 2008 at 15:32

Fixed it today. I took the rear bulbs out and had a look see.. they looked fine so as i was putting them back in i noticed that the metal contacts in the actual socket on one side were touching!... used a screwdriver to separate them back to the normal position and all was well. Strange how they have been fine for weeks and now its suddenly touching!.

Sorted anyway thanks for the comments.