Rear Brake Light failure 2001 s60

Brad Colyer · Post by **Brad Colyer** » 19 Aug 2011, 14:43

Rear brakes lights are not working, the third brake light is, I have checked and changed the fuses and the bulbs still a NO GO, any help would be great, I pulled up the schematic which was funny because I can't read one..lol

Thanks,

Brad

cottonwood2 · Post by **cottonwood2** » 19 Aug 2011, 16:45

I've get same trouble, I didn't solve it yet. I went to dealer to diagnost it and they said could be related with failure of alarm siren. Thanks guys from forum I ordered the part and probably I will change myself the siren, and I will see what happened.

Post by **jimmy57** » 19 Aug 2011, 16:46

Did you check fuses in the rear electric module in left quarter panel?
If the fuse is good there then put a stick between seat and brake pedal to keep brake light on and wiggle and push gently on the black strips you will see plugged on the right side of the REM unit. Those black strips are how the bulbs are checked for the bulb failure system. Some times the strips (shunts) can be loose and they do fail and can be replaced.
The third brake light is not powered through the REM.

cottonwood2 · Post by **cottonwood2** » 20 Aug 2011, 00:02

It is a good start! I checked fuses are OK, I checked these strips if they are ok in place and looks ok for me. Thanks jimmy.

Post by **DGM** » 20 Aug 2011, 09:16

The circuit diagram can be found on page 49 (PDF) of the following document.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/downloads/2001_S60.pdf

First I would suggest to verify again fuse 11D/3 in the cargo compartment (Page 24 ). Then verify if the relay 2/79 in position RM15 is well inserted. Do you hear or feel the relay clicking when the brake pedal is applied. Use a long screwdriver that you hold on the casing and the other end to your ear. You can substitute the relay with another one to test it.

If it is clicking, look if you have battery voltage coming to the relay socket from the above mentionned fuse. Then if you have voltage, you can use the electrical plug 54/51 (the factory hitch plug /page 155) as a test point to see if you have voltage on the other end of the relay (pin 4 of the plug/ yellow wire). It is a good idea to detach your trailer harness during testing if you have one installed (it can be the source of the problem).

Also verify the shunt in position RSH6 as Jimmy mentioned.

The grounding points of the light assemblies are different then it shouldn't the problem.

Other than this it could be a "special cause" above the average skill of a DIY.

cottonwood2 · Post by **cottonwood2** » 24 Aug 2011, 19:18

The relay was gone. I changed it, and now the lights are working.Thank you guys.

Post by **98T5** » 22 May 2016, 20:22

Take small cuts of cardboard and sandwich them together and put them in between the offending relay to keep it tight and snug in there. I had the same problem and that's what I did. no more "Check Brake Light" headaches.

Post by **abscate** » 22 May 2016, 20:26

I had to clean the fuse contact on my P2 in the left rear quarter panel fuse rack. Wierd failure.

I think I wrote a quick thread on it