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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
        
(Message started by: philgood on Mar 20^th, 2008, 10:46pm)

Title: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by philgood on Mar 20^th, 2008, 10:46pm

Following a previous problem with my brake lights staying on, which magically cured it’s self has now returned.
To cut long story short I disconnected a Blue relay thingy, which sits on top of drivers side inner wing, in the engine bay, which cured the problem while on the road, but I don’t know what this unit is for.
My main question is what is the relay thingy that I disconnected?

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by peteHull on Mar 20^th, 2008, 11:54pm

Hi Phil

I don't know off hand what the relay you disconnected is for without looking but usually brakelight problems can be tracked down to the switch unit mounted on or under the brake pedal, usually it just needs an adjustment. It may be that your disconnecting the relay was co-incidental to the brakelight working again. ??? characteristic of an intermittent fault.
I would be inclined to reconnect the relay in case it has stopped something else working. :o I'll have a look at mine tommorow and see if I can find out what it is.

hth
Pete

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by philgood on Mar 21^st, 2008, 1:47am

I don’t think that the brake pedal switch is at fault, as when I operate the switch it makes the brake light go brighter and dim slightly when released, this would prove the switch is operating correctly and that something else is giving the lights a feed at a lower voltage/amperage!!!

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by gozz on Mar 21^st, 2008, 10:27am

phil.
None of my cars has a blue thingey,it may be retrofit.Have you tried removing a wire from your brakelight switch?If the light extinguish then you've cracked it.It is possible for different intensities of light to prevail according to whether or not the switch is properly engaged.
GOZZ

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by scorpio_man on Mar 21^st, 2008, 10:57am

on 03/20/08 at 22:46:21, philgood wrote:

To cut long story short I disconnected a Blue relay thingy, which sits on top of drivers side inner wing, in the engine bay,
My main question is what is the relay thingy that I disconnected?

hi there

the only relay i know of is the BIG green one for the front engine fans.

hth

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by philgood on Mar 21^st, 2008, 12:22pm

My mistake.

In the dark it looked blue but it is in fact a greenie colour unit! About 3” long & about 1 ½” square; I presume it’s the one you say should be on front of the fans. What is this for?

Regards

Phil

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by jonnycab on Mar 21^st, 2008, 12:28pm

The big green relay controls the fans ;)

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by philgood on Mar 21^st, 2008, 4:38pm

Best I plug it back in I suppose!

So how does unplugging this relay make my brake lights operate correctly????

I have previously checked the pedal switch and boot lid looms for damage, and I disconnected what I think is the cruise control relay in the glove compartment (middle relay) when the fault reoccurred but this made no difference so I reinstalled this relay. What else is in the brake light circuit?

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by philgood on Mar 21^st, 2008, 6:15pm

I’ve put all back as it was and now every things working correctly again ??? The gremlins are at work here :-/.

My question still stands;

What is in the brake light circuit that could cause this fault? My original thought was a feed from the cruise control, as this should cut out when the pedal is depressed but obviously when my brake lights are on I can’t engage the cruise control!

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by peteHull on Mar 22^nd, 2008, 1:08am

Electrical Gremlins can be caused by water in the fusebox which will give different problems. It is worth checking the two fuseboxes and the area nder the passenger side footwell for damp. A well known problem on this site...
Hth
Pete

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by philgood on Mar 23^rd, 2008, 8:56pm

fuse box ok I've checked several times

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by harry.m1byt on Mar 24^th, 2008, 1:40pm

The cruise control is located drivers side(right) above the drivers right leg. Drop down the soft panel and it sits on a tray up there.

Have you checked for a possible fault in the harness which runs along the boot hinge?

See if the brake lights go out when you disconnect the feed to the brake light switch, there might be a partial short inside the switch.

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by gozz on Mar 24^th, 2008, 5:05pm

phil.
The brake light loom does'nt go via the bootlid,the lights are in the back of the rear wings.
GOZZ

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by Simmo on Mar 25^th, 2008, 7:16am

Gozz. I think what Harry is saying is to check the loom where it enters the boot area behind the offside hinge. There is a known problem with the loom coming into contact with the hinge if it is not held securely back out of the way. We did have some photos of this at one time and the damage is often 'hidden' in that you need to remove the outer 'wrapping' to actually check the loom wires. :)

Title: Re: what is the relay thingy I disconnected?
Post by gozz on Mar 25^th, 2008, 7:08pm

AYE AYE Simmo.
I'm with you now,Ithought he was referring to the looms in the hinges.
GOZZ