Light/electrical problem help please! :)

[LifeOfALegend]

I noticed today that my sidelights come on everytime i brake?! Is this a common fault?! Does anyone know the problem or have had the same problem?! I only noticed it because i was behind a nice shiny new car and saw the reflection lol

 

[Stani1029]

its a bad earth

p.s. i did not edit this in any way

 

[frank]

that usually points to a bad earth surely ?

 

[LifeOfALegend]

Cheers fellas, would that be under the bonnet or at the rear?

 

[frank]

Cheers fellas, would that be under the bonnet or at the rear?

dunno, are the tail lights coming on too ?

 

[LifeOfALegend]

yep frank, brake lights and sidelights both come on when i brake!

 

[frank]

yep frank, brake lights and sidelights both come on when i brake!

i would start with the earths at the back then MM (10mm bolt in the back panel area iirc) you hav,nt changed any bulbs lately ?

 

[getawaycar]

Try unplugging each rear lamp in turn. When the problem disappears you know the side you just disconnected has the fault!
Check the condition of the plug on each rear light for corrosion, check for decent earth on the faulty side at the plug (as Stani pointed out)
Check the condition of the bulb holder (Does it look corroded? Does the fault change side if you swap the bulb holder unit from one side to the other?)
Check the stop tail lamp bulbs aren't in upside down (As I think Frank hinted at)

 

[B14KLR]

have you recently changed the rear bulb? if you but a twin filament where a single one should be or vice versa that could cause same problem...

 

[LifeOfALegend]

Sorry fellas havent been on lately, will check all later thanks in advance!

 

[Alexx117]

Yeah same happened to me ages ago put the wrong bulbs in which had a single filament and I needed dual filament so the lights come on when I braked which must have been funny to watch

 

[LifeOfALegend]

Thats what it was! All fixed now, but the boot brake light blew, what bulbs go in it?! Or is it leds?