Phantom Brake Light Out Indicator..

[kerph32]

My OBC is telling me I have a "Brake Light Failure" yet all three are working (confirmed by my roommate a few nights ago)... I did have one out a few weeks ago but replaced it. Does this mean the connections are not all tight? I seem to have alot of corrosion on the contact points between the bulb cartridge and the plug on the back of the lens, any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[knightpitt]

my recommendation is to clean the contacts with a little bit of scarping and purchase some (what's it called?) dielectric grease or contact grease... or something like that... Whatever it's called, it's cheap and it's made for electrical contacts and helps out with the shoddy e36 tail light connections.

 

[kerph32]

Cool thanks for the input

 

[Big Daddy]

The problem is the brake light switch! This is a common problem with the e36.
Brake light Failure Repair

 

[Parocket]

Hmmm my 95 has the same message flashing...so is there info on how to replace? The referred page does not include the how to portion.

geo

 

[Big Daddy]

The Pelican Parts Site has numerous

technical guides and articles: Pelican Parts

 

[SKycity_BMW]

DIY: http://www.geocities.com/karlkarlb/brakeswitch.html

 

[knightpitt]

ahh yes, the brake light switch... right. Good call, guys. I forgot about that one.

 

[Joe_31]

Ya that exact same thing happened to me last summer.

They also replaced two of the bulbs because they said they were the wrong kind. They said they couldn't be the ones that looked like they were copper, they had to be the silver looking ones... Is this for real or did they just screw me over?

 

[Big Daddy]

They are correct. You are supposed to use "Euro" bulbs they have a silver colored base. Do NOT use the copper based one!

 

[Joe_31]

They never explained why though... Is it a corrosion problem between the metal of the bulb and the socket?

 

[Big Daddy]

That is correct Joe, the brass has a tendency to react to the socket and build up corrosion.