costant dim high level brake light

[redders]

Hi folks
got a wierd problem with my 03 tdi sport i've noticed the high level brake light is on constantly but only half of the lights and they are quite dim.
When you press the brake pedal the lights come on in full fine .
First i thought it would be the switch but even when i disconnect it ,it still stays on so i'm stumped anyone had this problem or know what it could be?
Thanks in advance

 

[markthommo_84]

sounds like it might be getting a feed from somewhere, maybe an earth.

my friend changed some halogen spot bulbs in his house to LED bulbs and they came on permanently dim and came on properly with the switch like you say for your brake light.
turns out there was a wiring error in the lighting somewhere in the house, live wired to an earth or something, and the LEDs needing such little power picked this up. Fault undiscovered for years with the halogen bulbs.

done any mods recently that might involve some wiring?

 

[redders]

thanks for that mate
i thought that myself but after looking again last night the main brake lights are'nt on so i'm going for a switch today.
The person only mentioned about the high level light and not the main lights not working, so hopefully that should cure it.
cheers

 

[Adam R]

sounds like it might be getting a feed from somewhere, maybe an earth.

my friend changed some halogen spot bulbs in his house to LED bulbs and they came on permanently dim and came on properly with the switch like you say for your brake light.
turns out there was a wiring error in the lighting somewhere in the house, live wired to an earth or something, and the LEDs needing such little power picked this up. Fault undiscovered for years with the halogen bulbs.

done any mods recently that might involve some wiring?

sorry to crash the thread...

but i think i may have power leaking through to earth as i keep on getting static shocks from my car when i touch a body pannel.. is there any way of finding the cause of this ???

 

[redders]

What a c**k end!
Turns out after fitting a brake light switch and still no good i thought to myself surely both bulbs could'nt have gone at the same time as i only checked them last week.
Ah well school boy error i suppose!
What really threw me was the high level brake light staying on dim but still working when brakes applied, apparently it's some safety thing so you have always got one brake light working!
As for the shocks not to sure mate i know some people fit them anti static strips under the car sometimes.

 

[markthommo_84]

ah, well you didnt say the main brake lights weren't working! else i'd have suggested checking the bulbs, you just said the hi-level one was on permanently but worked with the pedal press.

solved anyway

 

[Nath.]

With regard to you getting a shock from your car................ It is you and the nylon content of your clothes rubbing whilst you drive and charging up static, this static then discharges from you to the first metal part that you touch as the interior of the car is mainly plastic and will not allow you to discharge yourself.

Your car has a 12v DC system, 12v DC will not give you a shock. You can touch both terminals of your battery and you will feel nothing.

Buy some new undies that aren't made of nylon

 

[Adam R]

With regard to you getting a shock from your car................ It is you and the nylon content of your clothes rubbing whilst you drive and charging up static, this static then discharges from you to the first metal part that you touch as the interior of the car is mainly plastic and will not allow you to discharge yourself.

Your car has a 12v DC system, 12v DC will not give you a shock. You can touch both terminals of your battery and you will feel nothing.

Buy some new undies that aren't made of nylon

dunno what is giving me a shock but its annoying. i dontreally wear any nylon type products.. normally jean's, cotton t-shirts and cotton undies