Bulb Warning Light Only In Reverse w/ Flashers

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 31 May 2016, 14:33

I was moving my car today, and accidentally knocked the flasher switch when I shifted into reverse. When I hit the brakes (hadn't bothered to turn off the flashers yet) and noticed the bulb failure warning light flashing with the hazards. Strange thing is that it was only when my foot was on the brake pedal. It didn't do it in any other gears.
All of my turn signal bulbs are good, so that's not the problem. Any idea what it could be?

Post by **erikv11** » 31 May 2016, 14:39

This is usually due to dirty or rusting contacts in one of the bulb housings. I'd check the tail/stop light ones first since it seems to be tied to pushing the brake pedal.

Marty27 · Post by **Marty27** » 31 May 2016, 22:36

That's strange. The bulb failure light is not even tied in with the reverse lights. Sounds like an evil short that would drive me nuts.

Post by **abscate** » 31 May 2016, 23:32

Remember that the wiring harness in the wagon strut is a known wiring failure spot for any rear light funk.

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Jun 2016, 01:01

Marty27 wrote:That's strange. The bulb failure light is not even tied in with the reverse lights. Sounds like an evil short that would drive me nuts.

At first I was really puzzled by this comment but now i get it, I think you probably just misread the post. OP gets a warning flash when the brake pedal is pushed and the flashers are on - the symptoms here have nothing to do with the reverse lights.

I also agree that the wiring in the hinge is worth checking out.

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 01 Jun 2016, 01:28

abscate wrote:Remember that the wiring harness in the wagon strut is a known wiring failure spot for any rear light funk.

May I ask for ya to elaborate more on this? Thanks!

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 01 Jun 2016, 06:22

A lot of wiring goes through the "hinge" back there. There's some inevitable chafing, and it's a known problem that wires are stripped or even chewed through there, causing all sorts of strange electrical behavior. Check and see that all wires in that harness are whole and insulated, without damage like kinks and rubbing, and that none of them have snapped off.

It may seem unrelated at first, but electricity is magic (at least as far as I'm able to wrap my head around it), so there's apparently no telling what it'll do. Or won't do, as the case may be.

- S

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 01 Jun 2016, 07:53

I'll definitely check out the wiring, as well as bulb contacts. From what I can tell, the problem is intermittent. I checked again last night after going to the store, and the car won't do it now.

Post by **abscate** » 01 Jun 2016, 13:59

bmdubya1198 wrote:I'll definitely check out the wiring, as well as bulb contacts. From what I can tell, the problem is intermittent. I checked again last night after going to the store, and the car won't do it now.

Classic rear strut wiring symptom. Wait until you punch your lock button, thereby disabling your starter.

See thread and pix

obayha · Post by **obayha** » 01 Jun 2016, 14:01

Could be a dirty socket to lower the bulb contact. I replaced a bulb with a non perfect, meaning it works but not the exact match for the light, and my yellow light is always on when the lights are on. I have concluded that the bulb I replaced is a different wattage and the car doesn't like that. If you haven't changed any bulbs, then the problem could be resistance due to rust in the socket.
Just another guess.
I know my problem, just been to much going on to change the bulb, as I forgot which one I replaced.