Brake Lights not working: Not Bulb or Fuse.

[Funkedvag]

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum so sorry if im in the wrong place to post this.

I have a 95' 2.0 8v Audi coupe, and having brake light issues. Bulbs and fuses seem find, (new bulbs, twin filament type for one pair) all four rear bulbs are alight when lights switched on, but the brake bulb does not get brighter when brakes applied-hence no brake lights

Also when lights are switched on, the LCD clock gets dimmer, and the instrument display light is dim(suggesting maybe a current draw?), so, i'm guessing maybe a bad earth, but have no idea where, or how to go about finding it!

I spent 10 years as an engine re-conditioner, but am pretty useless with electrics

Any help would be grand

[fourringsrus]

A good starting place would be in the rear clusters,for these reasons;
,the rear clusters on our coupes are well known for ingress of water through the seals failing through age,when I sorted mine I had to replace the bulb holder/terminal board due to very bad corrosion,thus POOR EARTH and Christmas tree light images from the car.
Both bulb/boards cost me around £23 each from Audi(cheap and genuine parts) and very easy to change. The corrosion may mean you have to change the plug onto the bulb/boards aswell, but again cheap and simple.
Another place to have a peep in reference to NO BRAKE LIGHTS would be to check the switch activated by your brake pedal ,these can fail, and again not expensive
If you cure the problems by replacing the bulb holder assembly remember to sort out the seal from the lamp unit/lense assembly to the car bodywork.
Hope this is helping you

Stuart

[Funkedvag]

,the rear clusters on our coupes are well known for ingress of water through the seals failing through age

Thanks for your fast reply, Your answer has rung alarm bells actually, because my bulb holders on the rear aren't very good, the bulbs don't seem to locate nicely, and they do seem have a build of fur around them from moisture, thinking about it. So i'm guessing replace meant of those could be the next step

That price does not seem to bad either from Audi, im guessing second hand would be a bad way to go also. And thanks for giving me the heads up about light seals also. I wonder if the water could get in through the boot seal, or the light cluster seal, and work its way in, hummm. I'll have a ganders.
Thanks for all you help

[zollaf]

what happens is water runs down the gap between the boot and the sides and onto the flat panel above the lights. from here, it should drip down safely, but can also go through the seal between the rear lights and rear panel. it then fills the light up with water. (look at your rear lights, are they half full???), when the lights are half full, it spills out through the holes for the bulbs and into the boot, also getting the holder panel wet. its quite an easy job to remove everything , clean off the old sealant and redo it. i used some good quality bathroom silicone and now have a dry boot.

[Funkedvag]

water runs down the gap between the boot and the sides and onto the flat panel above the lights. from here, it should drip down safely, but can also go through the seal between the rear lights and rear panel. it then fills the light up with water.

Ok, thank you, i better get out there and see if my car has created a home for fish within the rear clusters, if so, i know where my problem is.

The boot lid seems to always be a problem! Mine likes to dump a few gallons of water on the back seat when i open it after it has rained also! Grrr.


Cheers for your help, been very constructive, i better go get my tools out..again.

[Funkedvag]

This is still being a pain I have changed one bulb holder, removed light cover, cleaned, re fitted with fresh silicon, alls good. but, still no brake lights. All bulbs are on, rear lights work, but the twin filament bulbs, only one element is lit (rear lights) Second (brakes) will not light up. I have removed brake switch, and joined the gap with some wire, still no brake lights (i'm guessing switch is just that, re-joins the circuit?)

Next question: I'm a bit confused with the fuse box. You have a run of fuses, No. 1 to No. 21.
But brake light fuse is number 29, so wheres the run of fuse No. 23 to No. 32??
I'm a bit lost with that!

[Funkedvag]

http://www.s2central.net/S2_Schematics/D/D08.PDF
If you open this .PDF, and look at the first picture of fuse board. That is what i have in my car, and it says No. 29 is brakes.

But...i have no fuse in there? and i cant rememeber taking it out! :/

[fourringsrus]

OK boys you will find another bunch of fuses above the "knee kick" panel on the off side of your car, this area also houses the relays for electric windows ,sunroof and a few other bits,have a poke about in there(drivers side knee panel)

Stuart

[andy757]

Talking of electrics, on my Audi Coupe, 1994 L reg, 2 litre, my front fog lights turn on ok but the rear fogs come on at the same time and yet when I turn on the rear fogs, nothing happens. It all seems to be happening via the front fog switch.

Any ideas why ??

[fourringsrus]

When you select front fogs ,you should only get front fogs but when you select rear fogs you should get fronts aswell,these fogs(front or rear) should also only work if side lights/headlights are switched on.

Stuart