'93 Golf CL - Brake lights differ in brightness.

Adampy | 17:30 Fri 01st Apr 2005 | Motoring

8 Answers

Can anyone tell me why my brake lights shine at diferent brightness. The Passenger side is really bright but the drivers side is quite dim. I have tried swapping the bulbs and buying new ones - still the same problem?

Im not sure If the police would pull me over because of this?

Thanks in advance.

When do I change my Mondeo cambelt ?

timing chain / cambelt

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ken c

sounds like a bad earth on the dim light trace it back to the earth point maybe just needs a clean

Adampy

Question Author

Thanks I will try that, but if it were the Earth wouldn't all the lights on that side be dim as its all one unit?

Fitzer

Could be the reflector on the dim side corroded/dulled more than that on the other, also condensation can have the same effect. If the units aren't sealed you could try taking them apart to have a look/clean.

v64paul

anybody know if the bulb has two filaments inside it and two contacts on its base, so it does both stop and tail lights? its supposed to be impossible to fit them the wrong way round but, if i had a pound...

the idea is that the brake light is 21 watt and the taillight is 5watt therefore dimmer.

Adampy

Question Author

I have taken the light off and checked, it is totally dry, no condensation. The buld has two filaments from what I can see, but the buld can only go in one way as it is a bayonette style bulb with the pins on the side. I tried swopping the bulbs from the other side but the same thing happens.

They are both bright enough at night, the police shouldn't give me problems I hope.

Mortartube

Take the bulb out of its holder and clean the inside of the holder up with a bit of sandpaper. It may just be a bit of corrosion in the bulb holder causing some resitance. If that fails, it does no harm to clean up the earth point and see if that helps.

Adampy

Question Author

Many thanks Mortartube, cleaning the bulb hole did the trick, or at least the light seems brighter. Cant beleive it was that simple. Thanks to all for their help.

Mortartube

Glad it helped. After many years of swearing at cars, I finally learnt to try the simplest things first, then move on to the more complicated procedures.

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