brake light issues, jeep compass.

[amarok88]

Hey guys, I am having a nightmare as my brake lights have just packed up and I am due to drive to france on Xmas day.

Ok,
Jeep compass 2007 CRD, UK
both brake lights are out:
3rd light works fine (window brake light)
bulbs are fine as I have tried new bulbs and still dont work
fuse is fine, I have fitted a new one and still doesnt work
all other lights work fine

tail lights and brake lights shar same bulb (double fillament) and tail lights are fine
I an getting 12v power to the fuse but no power to either back brake light.

It cant be the fuse, it cant be the bulbs as both are new. It cant be the switch as 3rd light works and it uses the same switch.

what can it be?

cant see how it can be a ground as I believe both light units use their own ground therefore likely hood of both failing is very low.

checked all fuses that I know of and all are fine. I am completely stuck??

 

[Plonker 3]

Have you been to see a auto electrician?

 

[amarok88]

not yet, only seen them today. Guessing my only chance is to catch one tomorrow as then everyone will be off for xmas.

anyone know of a good one near me in Dronfield (inbetween chesterfield and sheffield)

 

[Knobhead]

Take it to a garage

but I know a good scrap yard.

 

[telectrix]

this is something a local auto spark should be able to fix i 1/2 hour. i would suspect a poor connection on the edge connector to the pcb the light cluster fits on.

 

[amarok88]

Take it to a garage

but I know a good scrap yard.

it would go to a scrap yard if I had my way. Wifes car and bloody thing has been nothing but grief since getting it 18 months or so ago

 

[Knobhead]

Try a motoring forum. You may find someone that's interested.

 

[telectrix]

might be a good educational experience. try driving without using the brakes every 100 yards. ease off the loud pedal when you see red lights instead of ploughing along at full bore until you have to slam on the brakes. ( that's how her indoors drives, and it does my head in.)

edit: you'll probably save on fuel as well as needing brake pads every year.

 

[shagbite]

the gendarmes are rubbing their grubby little mitts as we speak.

 

[Knobhead]

Hang on, we've not got to my usual (auto) electrician is on holliday.

Ever get the bathroom light fixed?

 

[MDJ]

Ever get the bathroom light fixed?

:rofl: I was wondering the same haha

 

[amarok88]

Hand on we've not got to my usual (auto) electrician is on holliday.

Ever get the bathroom light fixed?

yeah I got it fixed. that was my House electrician. I thought they were different to car electricians so I havent even asked him. when I am working on cars he never seems to have a clue so I presumed auto electrician were mainly cars and sparky was houses etc. or is that really naive

 

[Knobhead]

So why you asking Here?

 

[MDJ]

Why does it suddenly feel like the pink handcuffs are back????????????????????

 

[shagbite]

"house electricians are different to car electricians..............." so you ask installation electricians about a car electrics? doh!

 

[amarok88]

I appologise I thought this was an auto electrician forum. it was the top one in google when I searched auto-electrician forum.

appologies. I have booked an auto sparky to come look tomorrow, but his time is short so I will try and mechanic forum.

sorry. I dont get the pink handcuff remark but if its a mick taking thing i guess I left myself open.

cheers for the fast replies anyhow.

the bathroom one by the way i fixed it and it seemed ok, but as you said seeming ok is not always right I got my sparky to check when he got back and all was good.

thanks again.

ill be back when I need some help hanging a door or something

 

[DNS1]

We don't do carpentry mate... Just electrics and abusing plumbers...

 

[telectrix]

We don't do carpentry mate... Just electrics and abusing plumbers...

and builders, wood butchers, kitchen fitters, conservatory con merchants, plasterers, plumbers ( second mention coz. they're the worst)

 

[markc123]

and builders, wood butchers, kitchen fitters, conservatory con merchants, plasterers, plumbers ( second mention coz. they're the worst)

And southerners

 

[telectrix]

i didn't mention southerners for fear of reprisals from the ku klux klan.

 

[ian.settle1]

i didn't mention southerners for fear of reprisals from the ku klux klan.

Would you like a visit? It can be arranged

 

[amarok88]

luckily I am none of the above, and I am also not a southerner .

I should be safe....for now

 

[MDJ]

I'm a southerner :59:

 

[markc123]

I'm a southerner :59:

Haha!

Im really sorry to hear this buddy.

Hope you can find the sufficient support you need

 

[telectrix]

nah, gloster. that's Almost a midlander.

 

[MDJ]

well west country, but some say were southerners hehe

 

[telectrix]

Would you like a visit? It can be arranged

don't say that electric fence across the wirral has broken down again.:boxing_smiley:

 

[ian.settle1]

don't say that electric fence across the wirral has broken down again.:boxing_smiley:

Now that was what that fuse was for which no-one knew what it supplied?

 

[UNG]

This forum may be more likely place for an answer to your problem

 

[amarok88]

Hi guys,

just to finish the thread as you never know, another person may come looking



the 3rd brake light was working and the other 2 were not. all 3 run off of the switch so since the 3rd was working this shows the switch was fine.
they all also run off of the same fuse, so again this was fine.
multimeter shows 12v going to fuse but no power at all going to rear sockets.

spoke to auto electrician who states he has asked around friends and jeep use a TIPM (some sort of turning signal unit) and that he cant fix this as its a specialist jeep item.

towbar was not working for brake lights only as it was wired into tail brake lights. all other parts of towbar work as do all other lights.

Jeep confirm it is likely to be the TIPM but they would have to diagnose first (£136). if it is TIPM they cannot repair / reset it and would have to order one from America which takes a week and then fit it.

I looked on the net and someone had this done in America with diagnostic, part and fitment and it cost 1200 dollars!!!

this TIPM controls various aspects of lights, not fully sure what but it controls things individually therefore is working for everything except brake lights.
this is apparently because it doesnt like towbars being fitted unless they have a Mopar relay. and it HAS TO BE MOPAR. I was not aware of this as the Jeep does not have any on-board system telling you lights are out etc or any other sensors so I just wired towbar straight in without relays.
It is only the brake lights in the towbar it doesnt like, something to do with the on.off power source makes it trip itself out (yet it is not concerned about indicators).

The 3rd brake light for some reason completely bypasses the TIPM and goes power>fuse>switch>light.

based on this I have just wired the 2 rear lights into the 3rd light.
Hey presto they all work completely fine now, as does the towbar.
spoke to my uncle who had a Jeep Grand Cherokee and this happened to him, he did the same and had no further issues for 4 years and then sold the car.

so all sorted now but just wanted to finish the thread for onlookers incase anyone else is crazy enough to ever buy a Jeep as they all apparently have this TIPM crap.

hope this makes sense, and thanks for the advice

 

[telectrix]

it's a problem with a lot of cars nowadays. bloody stupid non-essential electronics. the only form of engine management should be your right foot. it's all a con to make us use main agents for repairs.

 

[PEG]

Bloody Canbus and nodes,a lot of plant uses these control systems and we have swopped a good old fashioned DC feed for a weedy signal.Happy Christmas all...