OBC still says "1 brake light fail" after replacing bulb

[Captain Zac]

So, my OBC recently informed me that one of my brake lights was out. I replaced the bulb and everything works fine now.

But, the OBC is still reading "1 brake light fail"

Do I have to reset something? Thanks.

[TC535i]

Let's take bets... my money says it's your center brake light that's burned out.

[BabyM]

Or maybe it's the circuit and not the actual bulb...

[Sampson]

Could be your trunk wiring harness. Mine went bad and everytime I opened the trunk it shorted and all the lights on the right side went out. Took me a while to actually figure out that it was opening the trunk that made the lights go out. So I kept replacing the fuse and the lights would work fine but the error was still there until I fixed the harness.

Edit: Just noticed it's a '97, probably not the harness then, but you never know.

[TC535i]

Or maybe it's the circuit and not the actual bulb...

I thought that was a "brake light circuit" message, not "1 brake light"... maybe that's just on E34's?

People always get the message tho, and can't find it... until they check the 3rd (center hi-mount) brake light... :confused

[BmotorMsportW]

Sounds like a short somewhere to me, time to whip out the DMM/ test light.

[Steve530]

Are the lights working?

[DTM325PWR]

mine was doing this the other day, look inside the headlight, take the bulb out that doesnt work. look at the metal conductors that put power to the bulb. mine had one side burned through the metal. so i had to buy new taillights to fix the problem.

[Steve530]

mine was doing this the other day, look inside the headlight, take the bulb out that doesnt work. look at the metal conductors that put power to the bulb. mine had one side burned through the metal. so i had to buy new taillights to fix the problem.

I think you mean taillight, not headlight.

[Musicisair]

mine was doing this the other day, look inside the headlight, take the bulb out that doesnt work. look at the metal conductors that put power to the bulb. mine had one side burned through the metal. so i had to buy new taillights to fix the problem.


i had the same problem...it happen because one of the tabs that hold the bulb and it's holder in the tailight broke off and it was sitting in there crooked and arching every time i hit the brakes...so i got a new bulb holder thing and it works most of the time. i just have to place the holder thing in just the right spot to get contact.

[robisconfusedd]

...... how come when all 3 of my brake lights were out i never got any freakin warning!!!! i want a warning.... im jealous