Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: SMD on 03 August 2010, 00:58:34

Title: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 03 August 2010, 00:58:34
My right brake light bulb needs replacing and I know stuff like this is a doddle but wanted to know if there was anything tricky about doing it. Do I just pull the connectors out and undo the screws/nuts to get to the bulb ? :-[

Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 03 August 2010, 01:30:21
Quote
My right brake light bulb needs replacing and I know stuff like this is a doddle but wanted to know if there was anything tricky about doing it. Do I just pull the connectors out and undo the screws/nuts to get to the bulb ? :-[


Open boot!  ;)
On the back of the light unit, you'll see a black 'housing' that hold all the lamps/bulbs. Somewhere towards the top is a tab (can't remember exactly what it looks like & I'm not going outside to look  ::)) that you press which will allow the whole black bit to come out. Your brake light lamp/bulb is the one with twin filaments ie stop lamp & tail light. Make sure you fit the lamp in the correct way around. In theory the two pins on the side on the lamp which are at different heights should stop you from fitting it incorrectly but ..... you can fit it wrong if you force it.  ::)  ;)
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 03 August 2010, 10:39:01
Thanks Andy
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 11:29:14
So I replaced my brake light bulb just now, how hard could it be, right? 2 mins down the road I got a message that read "headlamp tail light" and intermittent "brake light" message.

When I got home I got the boy to step on the brakes while I checked the lights. They work fine but when I turn the headlamps on the third brake light constantly stays on and acts as a tail light.

Whats going on here? I wonder how any OOFers it will take to fix a light bulb.  ;D

Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 06 August 2010, 11:39:19
Quote
.... I got a message that read "headlamp tail light"  ....


That suggests that you now have a lamp out somewhere. You had 2 tail lights on each side? CAn't say why you now have a constant high level brake light though  :-/ Try taking your new lamp out & see what happens.  :-/
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Jimbob on 06 August 2010, 11:42:05
I had something vaguely silimar in an astra 15 years ago

new bulb fitted  brake / tail

whenever you braked, headlights came on.

iirc the fix was to turn the bulb around  :y

but it was a long time ago...
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 11:52:35
Quote
Quote
.... I got a message that read "headlamp tail light"  ....


That suggests that you now have a lamp out somewhere. You had 2 tail lights on each side? CAn't say why you now have a constant high level brake light though  :-/ Try taking your new lamp out & see what happens.  :-/

Andy - I checked all the lamps. They all work. 2 tails lights? I'll try taking the bulb out to see what that does.

Jim, turn the bulb around? Do you mean turn that buld 180 degrees and refit?


Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Jimbob on 06 August 2010, 12:10:01
Quote
Quote
Quote
.... I got a message that read "headlamp tail light"  ....


That suggests that you now have a lamp out somewhere. You had 2 tail lights on each side? CAn't say why you now have a constant high level brake light though  :-/ Try taking your new lamp out & see what happens.  :-/

Andy - I checked all the lamps. They all work. 2 tails lights? I'll try taking the bulb out to see what that does.

Jim, turn the bulb around? Do you mean turn that buld 180 degrees and refit?



Yup, no guarantee's but worth a try
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 12:30:26
Turned the bulb as jimbob said, no change.

Took the new bulb out and the 3rd brake doesn't come on with the headlamps but put it back in and the 3rd brake light stay on as a tail light.

Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 15:07:08
Another update

I just noticed when I press the brake pedal the front right headlamp also flashes.  :-?  This is probably what the "headlamp tail light" warning was about.

Whats going on?
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: neilr on 06 August 2010, 15:46:18
I would think you have an earth issue. Check lamp holder for corrosion and  try a different bulb some cheap bulbs give problems try a good brand ie lucas phillips osram etc. I had probs with n/s/r stop lamp bulb worked intermittantly bulb change problem solved.
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: GaryBC on 06 August 2010, 15:50:56
Back in "The Old Days" (ie when wires connected directly between switches and bulbs without any electronickery involved) a snag like this usually pointed towards a bad earth somewhere. 

As a result the return current found an alternate path to earth - through another bulb somewhere, thus causing it to light up.
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 15:52:18
Lamp holder is in good nick, no corrosion. The bulbs are from Halfrauds. Should I get some bulbs from VX?

Gary, how can I fix this earth issue?
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: dbug on 06 August 2010, 21:48:30
Think you have 2 issues

1) Bad earth somewhere
2) Dont use Halfords bulbs - they will work ok but not clear MID fault message - use Vx or Ring bulbs.






Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 22:33:22
I will buy GM bulbs tomorrow and hoping that should be enough to solve my issues.

How can I overcome a bad earth?
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 06 August 2010, 22:35:29
Quote
.....

How can I overcome a bad earth?

Clean the conection with a little emery (sandpaper-ish) and make sure the nut is tight ...... don't go daft though  ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 22:38:02
Sorry to sound thick ( and I probably should touch electrics anyway) where would the bad earth be? The faulty light cluster? Just follow the earth and see where is terminated and give it a clean?
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: TheBoy on 06 August 2010, 22:42:11
Quote
Think you have 2 issues

1) Bad earth somewhere
2) Dont use Halfords bulbs - they will work ok but not clear MID fault message - use Vx or Ring bulbs.

Generally work for me (on those rare occasions that I use them)
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 06 August 2010, 22:43:57
Quote
.... Just follow the earth and see where is terminated and give it a clean?

Yes!  ;) It's the thick brown one  :y
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 06 August 2010, 22:55:37
Is the earth connection close to the light cluster? Dont want to be stripping the boot  :)

Will sort this out tomorrow.

Thanks for all the replies.

Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 06 August 2010, 23:08:13
Quote
Is the earth connection close to the light cluster? Dont want to be stripping the boot  :)

Will sort this out tomorrow.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

I think it's under the black plastic trim right at the ery back of the boot (bumper side)  :-/
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: SMD on 07 August 2010, 10:29:12
Quick update on this thread. Dont use anything from Halfords on your Omega  :y
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: masterjohnson on 07 April 2011, 01:55:08
Quote
Quote
My right brake light bulb needs replacing and I know stuff like this is a doddle but wanted to know if there was anything tricky about doing it. Do I just pull the connectors out and undo the screws/nuts to get to the bulb ? :-[

Open boot!  ;)
On the back of the light unit, you'll see a black 'housing' that hold all the lamps/bulbs. Somewhere towards the top is a tab (can't remember exactly what it looks like & I'm not going outside to look  ::)) that you press which will allow the whole black bit to come out. Your brake light lamp/bulb is the one with twin filaments ie stop lamp & tail light. Make sure you fit the lamp in the correct way around. In theory the two pins on the side on the lamp which are at different heights should stop you from fitting it incorrectly but ..... you can fit it wrong if you force it.  ::)  ;)

Oh no i already bought Halfords bulbs before i read this thread! tsk tsk. what a waste of money. What do you mean by bad earth connection guys? sorry i am a noob on this. oopps sorry for digging this guys.
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: hallpearl on 09 April 2011, 16:26:01
Quote
Quote
Quote
My right brake light bulb needs replacing and I know stuff like this is a doddle but wanted to know if there was anything tricky about doing it. Do I just pull the connectors out and undo the screws/nuts to get to the bulb ? :-[

Open boot!  ;)
On the back of the light unit, you'll see a black 'housing' that hold all the lamps/bulbs. Somewhere towards the top is a tab (can't remember exactly what it looks like & I'm not going outside to look  ::)) that you press which will allow the whole black bit to come out. Your brake light lamp/bulb is the one with twin filaments ie stop lamp & tail light. Make sure you fit the lamp in the correct way around. In theory the two pins on the side on the lamp which are at different heights should stop you from fitting it incorrectly but ..... you can fit it wrong if you force it.  ::)  ;)

Oh no i already bought Halfords bulbs before i read this thread! tsk tsk. what a waste of money. What do you mean by bad earth connection guys? sorry i am a noob on this. oopps sorry for digging this guys.

dude that is so basic! well your lucky i am a nice guy.
A bad ground connection in cars simply means that there is one or more grounding wires that have a loose, corroded, or otherwise faulty connection. There can also be an intermittent connection which will also cause issues. Now you know? lol  :y





Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Big_Roger on 10 April 2011, 14:29:23
Hi
Just a comment to correct some advice on rear lamp cluster bulbs.

The brake light is not the 21/5 W twin filament bulb at the bottom of the cluster. This is the Rear tail and rear fog lamp bulb. The bayonet pins are offset vertically as well as radialy, take care not to confuse with the earlier type bulbs which the bayonet pins were only offset vertically.

The brake light bulb is the top of the cluster 21W SCC lamp.

Roger

Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 10 April 2011, 15:10:50
Quote
Hi
Just a comment to correct some advice on rear lamp cluster bulbs.

The brake light is not the 21/5 W twin filament bulb at the bottom of the cluster. This is the Rear tail and rear fog lamp bulb. The bayonet pins are offset vertically as well as radialy, take care not to confuse with the earlier type bulbs which the bayonet pins were only offset vertically.

The brake light bulb is the top of the cluster 21W SCC lamp.

Roger


Are we talking saloon or estate?  None of my Vauxhalls have ever shared a tail lamp with a fog light. On a saloon, the fog lights are a separate lamp on the boot lid - don't know about the estate, but an Astra G estate's fog light is the top lamp of the clusters - is an Omega's not the same???  :-/ :-/

Maybe someone before you has been playing .......
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Big_Roger on 10 April 2011, 16:24:23
Hi,
I stand corrected!!
The info I gave is only correct for Estate version.

Sorry if caused any confusion.

Roger
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 10 April 2011, 16:47:02
Quote
Hi,
I stand corrected!!
The info I gave is only correct for Estate version.

Sorry if caused any confusion.

Roger

Looks like someone at GM actually put some thought into the estate's light then. I can never understand why more cars don't share the tail light with the fog light & use a separate stop light rather than have a lone fog light that gets used half a dozen times in a car's life time plus once a year at MOT  :y
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: dbug on 10 April 2011, 17:53:08
Quote
Quick update on this thread. Dont use anything from Halfords on your Omega  :y

Told you so  ;) :y

Quote
Hi,
I stand corrected!!
The info I gave is only correct for Estate version.

Sorry if caused any confusion.

Roger

Not so for our mini face lift Omega Elite Estate - same brake/tail bulbs as for saloon!!  Rear fogs single bulb.  You sure - never seen a rear fog light combined with a tail light bulb!! :-? :-?
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Andy B on 10 April 2011, 18:14:55
Quote
.....  You sure - never seen a rear fog light combined with a tail light bulb!! :-? :-?

Some Sierras had this, and latest shape 3 series (?) BMWs have the inner most tail light combined with its fog. It stands to reason to me, if you have a 5W tail light that allegedly not bright enough to be seen in fog then why not combine it with a filament that you can see.  ;)

No reason to doubt Big Roger, but as I said, I think that someone has been playing with his rear lights ......... as I have on my Astra G  ::)
Title: Re: Replacing brake light
Post by: Big_Roger on 10 April 2011, 19:28:48
Hi,
Just to confirm.
Mine is facelift version.
It is as illustrated in my handbook.
Top: Brake light
2nd down: Indicator light.
3rd down: Reverse light.
Bottom: Tail & tail fog.


Roger