Hi new to the club

Pleasure to be here and looking forward to learning of you knowledgable members

I have a mk1 focus 2001 1.8 Zetec

Got an issue with my brake/tail lights

Basically when I turn the lights on my central brake light is on as well as tail lights only dim but enough to see

Then when I apply the brakes my tail lights go off and the central light illuminates

The 2 brake lights on the side do not come on either

Had a look on the web and many places say it's an earth issue I have chased both earths and found that they are in good condition

Any ideas?

I don't want to send the car the heaven (scrap yard)

Cheers in advance Chris

Check the wires in the rubber sleeve between the roof and hatch.

Over time the insulation on the wires gets brittle and either causes short circuits after rain or causes the wires to snap.

You may need to have damaged secrions cut out and patched.

I had this on my old mk1 and applying the brakes caused the boot lock to pop and it blew the lock motor after a while.

I have completely stripped the boot and checked every wire they all look brand new I have contact cleaned every connection and cleaned every earth.

Just completely lost with it

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Sometimes a fused bulb can cause this type of error.

Try unplugging the third brake light and see if the problem persists.

Do you have any LED bulbs fitted in any of the brake lights?

Will try that not at home at the mo,

No LEDs don't rate then

Thank you for you help and will let you know how that gets on

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When this used to happen on the old ford escorts fiestas and the like it was the connector had got corrosion in it causing a really bad earth that's the first place I would be looking .

Checked all connections nice and clean

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It's defo something that's common to all the lights which will be an earth is there any corrosion on any of the light circuit or in the bulb holders .

I have checked all the rear but not the front, but there on a different circuit

Thank you everyone for your help

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Just a thought have you checked the wiring going to the number plate light as this is one area you would get water ingress this is where my mates was constantly blowing the fuse from . Any signs of corrosion on the connectors or wiring or possible chaffed wire in that area

I have had a quick look but couldn't see anything will have a proper look when home again

Thank you

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Stoney871 great idea with removing the central light it did sort of work, what I have happening now is that both tail lights switch on

The central brake light stays off

I apply the brake the driver side brake light turns on but no passenger side or central light

Any more ideas?

Both number plate lights look black as hell so swapped but no different to previous comment

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F

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There has to be an earthing fault somewhere.

You may find that the best option is to let an auto electrician have a look.

They are pretty good at diagnosing annoying electrical gremlins and shouldn't cost the earth.

Ok cheers for all the help

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Best of luck and keep us posted.

Will do

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It's a bulb holder, any ideas where best place to get them from?

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Which one is it?

Stop and tail bulb holder

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Mk1 focus 2001

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