Right rear brake light warning ON but no lbulb out?

[GSLAM09]

Tested all bulbs several times and all working fine; but still getting an annoying warning light, anyone come across this? Know any way to turn off the warning light?

[evinkay]

This is due to faulty terminal connections, if you clean up the sockets it should go away. If that doesnt then you can use some solder or wire to connect the checking terminals. Im sure there's a diy or guide on here as the question was asked before. Mine comes one every now and then for the right rear but frankly it doesnt come on frequently enough for me to care.

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Here you go.


Your porblem is poor contact in the socket, get some bulb grease and verify you have the correct bulbs in there.

[jstern]

If memory serves me, the problem is in the connector and/or the contacts. Because of the light's proximity to the battery, corrosion forms in the connector and possibly the contacts for the bulbs. This corrosion adds resistance to the circuit setting off the bulb out warning. A good cleaning of those parts should solve the problem.

You also might want to make certain that the battery vent (at the front of the battery) is hooked up to the vent tube that carries the battery gasses out of the inside of the car. There also should be a plastic plug in the rear vent hole.

BTW-DeoxiT DN5 is the best contact cleaner/protector/corrosion dissolver on the planet.

[whiteghost1]

Cheap bulbs (brass base) have a slightly different resistance than the OE stainless base bulbs. The light module will sometimes pickup this difference and interpret it as a blown out bulb, thus triggering a warning message; even when it is fully functional. If the above posters don't solve your problem try a good quality OE bulb.

[edjack]

The LKM can detect a bulb at end of life. If it bothers you, replace the bulbs. Make sure your CHMSL is working.

[AusE39er]

Good info. right here. I used to have this error come up every now and again when there was no issue. If it comes back I know what to do.

[Aryana]

Dielectric grease can help, but it often takes a new bulb especially if the ones you have are brass. This issue drove me nuts on my E34 for years.

[GSLAM09]

Hi again all, I've tried a few small things but still no change:
1, changed bulbs
2, greased everything
3, changed out the entire bulb holder for all bulbs, not sure what called
4, disconnected battery for 15-20 mins

Trying the connector next, any other tips welcome,

[pshovest]

Check/clean the 5 pin connector where wiring harness connects to tail light assembly. This was problem on my 530i.....took forever to find.
You did check the 3rd brake light, right?

[Jamaican71]

Check/clean the 5 pin connector where wiring harness connects to tail light assembly. This was problem on my 530i.....took forever to find.
You did check the 3rd brake light, right?

The right bulb out indicator is also for the center brake light as pshovest mentioned above. Quite sure that is your culprit.

[caryalon]

Check/clean the 5 pin connector where wiring harness connects to tail light assembly. This was problem on my 530i.....took forever to find.
You did check the 3rd brake light, right?

+2 - a new 3rd brake light socket is available (cheaply) from the dealer, also...

[JB2mnytys]

I just picked up an OEM 3rd brake light socket from ECS for less than $6; shipping was more than the cost of the part...

[GSLAM09]

YEP, 3rd brake light was the culprit, appreciate all the posts everyone. I think the fact that the right rear light was showing did not help but is fixed now, thanks all