E30 Brake light issue

[Lukeprusher 13]

Hi,

Realised today that none of my brake lights work, i have replaced the fuses, bulbs and checked the relay, what else could cause this?

Cheers

[Lukeprusher 13]

and replaced the brake light switch

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2136]

do you have trailer wiring

[Lukeprusher 13]

No i dont

[slybma 38]

Have you traced back to see if you have power in the circuit?

[Lukeprusher 13]

Yeap theres power to it,

Puzzled.

[slybma 38]

so you have power all the way to the tail lights?

[Lukeprusher 13]

Yes,

[Lukeprusher 13]

Will change the brake light switch with another and see how that goes,

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2136]

if you have power to the lights, you are looking too far upstream. Checked the grounds? High stop work at all? all other rear lights work?

[e30ftw 410]

Google e30 ETM, (Electric troubleshooting guide), Find one of the same year then find the brake wiring schematic. Easiest way to find how the circuit works and what you are looking for, also lists all the connectors and their locations listed somewhere too if you need to go hunting.

Edited April 22, 2014 by e30ftw

[Lukeprusher 13]

Thanks guys, will give it a go

[hotwire 352]

Do you have power on the tail light circuit OR the brake light circuit? Both obviously different.

If you have power out of the brake light switch & at the lamp (brake) - can only be an earth issue to the lamp assy

[APT 195]

I had this issue, one side was completely out and the other side worked. It ended up being the brake light switch.

[hotwire 352]

^^^^ Neither brake light will work if the switch is faulty. You sure you don't mean one tail?

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2136]

i too doubt that. Pretty sure the switch only has two terminals from memory

Edited April 22, 2014 by _Ethrty-Andy_

[hotwire 352]

^^^^^^ Yep. Two versions in E30's - early & late type. Both two terminal - power in, power out.

Any brake light switch has only one power out to the lights

[darrencnz 10]

I have this same problem, I tested the brake light switch (replaced it not long ago, so was suprised it would be that) and it's working fine, I replaced all the fuses (they were nearly all factory), all the other lights work, just no brake lights. I'm thinking it's an earth somewhere as it seemed to happen after I had loads of stuff in the boot.

It's just too cold outside at the moment to go hunting... Lol