Author Topic: Replacing high level brake light  (Read 19680 times)

BlackhawkSaab

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Replacing high level brake light
« on: 12 July 2011, 12:12:32 PM »
Hi All,

My 2001 9-3 SE is in for a service today (at main dealer in Newbury - remarkably cheaper than independent garages - although very sadly now relegated to a desk in the corner of a Skoda/Suziki dealership....) and amongst a list of things that need fixing before the MOT next month is the high level brake light. The bulb/s are gone and they are quoting me £83 for a complete replacement.

Has anyone got any idiot proof guidelines to replacing this DIY - can't believe it can cost that much to fix and a quick web search finds spares for under £20.

Thanks!


phoenix

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Re: Replacing high level brake light
« Reply #1 on: 12 July 2011, 12:40:59 PM »
Hmm, sounds odd to me. I don't have a copy of WIS at hand just now but I'm pretty sure the high level brakelight is LED, and thus failure should be virtually unheard of.

I'll check later

Neil93

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Re: Replacing high level brake light
« Reply #2 on: 12 July 2011, 10:38:30 PM »
I had two of the bulbs out (one failed - one down to corrosion). As I recall they are about £2 each from Halfords.
I've forgotten what their real name is - capless bulbs? They do not have the metal base and are in white plastic mountings -  twist a quarter turn and pull to remove.

You have to remove the lining from the boot lid - about 5 twistlock plastic screws - again, about a quarter turn to remove.
Once the lining is out of the way you can see the row of four bulbs in their plastic housings on the two parallel power rails.
Rotate the failed ones a quarter turn anti-clockwise and they should(!) come out easily.
Remove the old bulb from the plastic housing and replace with the new, then re-insert.
I had a lot of corrosion on the power rail around one of the bulbs which was causing bad contacts - I've forgotten how I cleaned it up, scraped it with a screwdriver probably, but I'm sure there's better ways!
« Last Edit: 12 July 2011, 10:40:35 PM by Neil93 »

phoenix

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Re: Replacing high level brake light
« Reply #3 on: 13 July 2011, 08:04:10 AM »
GM900 and all convertible models have incandescent lamps, but the 9-3 hatch has a single LED unit, P/N 46 76 383 RRP £48.31.

I'd be more inclined to look for faults with the wiring and connectors before condemning the LED unit :)

Neil93

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Re: Replacing high level brake light
« Reply #4 on: 13 July 2011, 11:24:55 PM »
Yes, mine is indeed a convertible (2000 SE) - that will teach me to be more specific!
I wonder why they did two radically different types?

phoenix

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