Electrics: - LED Tailgate Brake Light Still Alight When Ignition Off

Arianne · Nov 25th, 2010, 16:28

Hi Guys,

My LED tailgate hi-level brake light is stuck on after the ignition is switched off. The other two brake lights all operate normally. The LED only goes out after about 60secs of its own accord.

All of the brake lights work properly when the key is set to ignition and when the car is running. It's when you turn the car off and turn the key back from ignition that the LED lights up on its own.

It's not associated with any other lighting combination. I tried seeing whether it goes out when the interior courtesy lights fade out but there's no link. My car is a manual gearbox.

I took the car to the dealer today. They're a good dealership but they were puzzled and that's not normally good news for my credit card based upon past experience!

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks, Arianne.

bobdabuilda · Nov 25th, 2010, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arianne

Hi Guys,

My LED tailgate hi-level brake light is stuck on after the ignition is switched off. The other two brake lights all operate normally. The LED only goes out after about 60secs of its own accord.

All of the brake lights work properly when the key is set to ignition and when the car is running. It's when you turn the car off and turn the key back from ignition that the LED lights up on its own.

It's not associated with any other lighting combination. I tried seeing whether it goes out when the interior courtesy lights fade out but there's no link. My car is a manual gearbox.

I took the car to the dealer today. They're a good dealership but they were puzzled and that's not normally good news for my credit card based upon past experience!

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks, Arianne.

Not sure if it's any use but when this happens on vw golfs it's the brake pedal switch that's faulty and needs changing.

Arianne · Nov 25th, 2010, 17:00

bobdabuilda

I don't think it's the brake pedal switch because that would surely also affect the other two brake lights. And it would show the same symptom all of the time and not just when the ignition is switched off. Thanks though for taking the time to reply.

Any other thoughts?

Arianne

bobdabuilda · Nov 25th, 2010, 17:32

It doesn't on the Golf and displays those exact characteristics, but like I said unlikely to be of any help as they are different cars. Good luck and let us know what is found.

Arianne · Dec 9th, 2011, 17:46

An interesting development......

Alternator failed last weekend, £654 total repair (£404 for alternator, £140 labour & the rest was vat, ouch).

But the LED light problem has gone away. The dealer didn't say that they did anything about the lights. They just replaced the alternator & that's that.

So I wonder whether there was a link between the output from the alternator going wonky (gradually) and some residual current left over after the ignition had been cut? The LEDs might be the most sensitive bit of the lighting system to show the left over charge.

We've lived with the LED problem for quite a while and it's rather odd that they have just returned to normal.

Alternatively, it could simply be that the battery was almost completely flat and needed to be recharged (the alternator gave up completely last weekend and so the battery was drained).

But I thought it was worth posting

Arianne

Miti · Dec 9th, 2011, 18:23

Blimey..!! £400+ for an alternator...

£185 inc VAT. I should think a local Indie garage would charge about 1hr labour...

It's only money though, eh..?

Miti

ex Triumph Man · Dec 9th, 2011, 18:44

I had a problem with the high level stop light on my XC90. It was the only stop light working and I thought that both the main bulbs had blown. Unlikely but possible.

Took it to Lloyd Volvo in Carlisle. Traced fault to CEM (Central Electronic Module).

Suggest you get the dealer to check this out.

XC90 SE Lux Premium 11MY Magic Blue

judgeman · Dec 10th, 2011, 10:19

Ditto. Had a similar problem a year ago on my '05 XC. Turned out it was the known fault of water ingress through the bulkhead and running down the wiring loom into the CEM.

Dealership wanted nearly £1100 to repair, but told them what I thought of that as the car was only just over 5 years old, and had numerous other faults (bought through the dealership as a selected used vehicle the year before!). Finally managed to get a Volvo Car UK 'good will' discount, but still cost me £612 + insurance for loan car, and lots of grief.

However, at least all the faults due to the CEM failure (OS headlamp also failed because of this) were resolved and no recurrence (but don't want to tempt fate by saying AOK!).

Defo get CEM checked out.

Clan · Dec 10th, 2011, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arianne

An interesting development......

Alternator failed last weekend, £654 total repair (£404 for alternator, £140 labour & the rest was vat, ouch).

But the LED light problem has gone away. The dealer didn't say that they did anything about the lights. They just replaced the alternator & that's that.

So I wonder whether there was a link between the output from the alternator going wonky (gradually) and some residual current left over after the ignition had been cut? The LEDs might be the most sensitive bit of the lighting system to show the left over charge.

We've lived with the LED problem for quite a while and it's rather odd that they have just returned to normal.

Alternatively, it could simply be that the battery was almost completely flat and needed to be recharged (the alternator gave up completely last weekend and so the battery was drained).

But I thought it was worth posting

Arianne

Your 2006 car is prone to getting water in the CEM as described above and the cem also controls the alternator , alternator failure on these cars is very unlikely and almost unheard of .
put two and two together ..
Your dealer should be very aware of this and your car may well have a part payment policy against it and the waterproofing kit . , again your dealer should automaticaly check this when ever you visit them
go back to them see what they can do . you might salvage your CEM if the damage isnt too bad .

Arianne · Dec 10th, 2011, 15:28

Hi Clan,

I've not heard of the issues with water damage to the CEM or the waterproofing kit. Can you tell me more?

We had the CEM fail about 2yrs ago (circa £700) so should the dealer have improved the waterproof protection for the CEM?

I'm interested because, if they've replaced the alternator as a symptom of a deeper, developing problem with the CEM then I would like to discuss the CEM issue with them asap.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Arianne

Nov 25th, 2010, 16:28	#1
Arianne Premier Member Last Online: Jan 29th, 2021 20:23 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Scotland	LED Tailgate Brake Light Still Alight When Ignition Off Hi Guys, My LED tailgate hi-level brake light is stuck on after the ignition is switched off. The other two brake lights all operate normally. The LED only goes out after about 60secs of its own accord. All of the brake lights work properly when the key is set to ignition and when the car is running. It's when you turn the car off and turn the key back from ignition that the LED lights up on its own. It's not associated with any other lighting combination. I tried seeing whether it goes out when the interior courtesy lights fade out but there's no link. My car is a manual gearbox. I took the car to the dealer today. They're a good dealership but they were puzzled and that's not normally good news for my credit card based upon past experience! Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Arianne.

Dec 9th, 2011, 17:46	#5
Arianne Premier Member Last Online: Jan 29th, 2021 20:23 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Scotland	Link between alternator & LED Brake Light Issue? An interesting development...... Alternator failed last weekend, £654 total repair (£404 for alternator, £140 labour & the rest was vat, ouch). But the LED light problem has gone away. The dealer didn't say that they did anything about the lights. They just replaced the alternator & that's that. So I wonder whether there was a link between the output from the alternator going wonky (gradually) and some residual current left over after the ignition had been cut? The LEDs might be the most sensitive bit of the lighting system to show the left over charge. We've lived with the LED problem for quite a while and it's rather odd that they have just returned to normal. Alternatively, it could simply be that the battery was almost completely flat and needed to be recharged (the alternator gave up completely last weekend and so the battery was drained). But I thought it was worth posting Arianne

Dec 10th, 2011, 15:28	#10
Arianne Premier Member Last Online: Jan 29th, 2021 20:23 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Scotland	CEM & Waterproofing Kit... Hi Clan, I've not heard of the issues with water damage to the CEM or the waterproofing kit. Can you tell me more? We had the CEM fail about 2yrs ago (circa £700) so should the dealer have improved the waterproof protection for the CEM? I'm interested because, if they've replaced the alternator as a symptom of a deeper, developing problem with the CEM then I would like to discuss the CEM issue with them asap. Thanks in advance for your help. Arianne

Nov 25th, 2010, 17:00	#3
Arianne Premier Member Last Online: Jan 29th, 2021 20:23 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Scotland	bobdabuilda I don't think it's the brake pedal switch because that would surely also affect the other two brake lights. And it would show the same symptom all of the time and not just when the ignition is switched off. Thanks though for taking the time to reply. Any other thoughts? Arianne

Nov 25th, 2010, 17:32	#4
bobdabuilda Premier Member Last Online: May 31st, 2022 11:32 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: south	It doesn't on the Golf and displays those exact characteristics, but like I said unlikely to be of any help as they are different cars. Good luck and let us know what is found.

Dec 9th, 2011, 18:23	#6
Miti Member Last Online: Aug 8th, 2019 23:04 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow (ish)	Blimey..!! £400+ for an alternator... £185 inc VAT. I should think a local Indie garage would charge about 1hr labour... It's only money though, eh..? Miti

Dec 9th, 2011, 18:44	#7
ex Triumph Man Senior Member Last Online: Nov 4th, 2018 19:22 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kirkcudbright	I had a problem with the high level stop light on my XC90. It was the only stop light working and I thought that both the main bulbs had blown. Unlikely but possible. Took it to Lloyd Volvo in Carlisle. Traced fault to CEM (Central Electronic Module). Suggest you get the dealer to check this out. XC90 SE Lux Premium 11MY Magic Blue

Dec 10th, 2011, 10:19	#8
judgeman Senior Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 17:46 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Skipton	Ditto. Had a similar problem a year ago on my '05 XC. Turned out it was the known fault of water ingress through the bulkhead and running down the wiring loom into the CEM. Dealership wanted nearly £1100 to repair, but told them what I thought of that as the car was only just over 5 years old, and had numerous other faults (bought through the dealership as a selected used vehicle the year before!). Finally managed to get a Volvo Car UK 'good will' discount, but still cost me £612 + insurance for loan car, and lots of grief. However, at least all the faults due to the CEM failure (OS headlamp also failed because of this) were resolved and no recurrence (but don't want to tempt fate by saying AOK!). Defo get CEM checked out.

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