Author Topic: so many broken brake lights. (Read 21064 times)

aquadorhj · « **on:** March 30, 2015, 01:19:52 pm »

I see more than Double digit number of cars with broken brake light s every day....
Why aren't these people ever ticketed ...

Fobroader · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2015, 01:24:23 pm »

Hard to catch them, cops prefer to sit on the side of the road with a radar gun.....because easy.

wing · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2015, 01:26:05 pm »

All VW?

KD · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2015, 01:37:30 pm »

And headlights.

aquadorhj · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2015, 01:47:33 pm »

Quote from: wing on March 30, 2015, 01:26:05 pm

All VW?

LOL. you would think so, eh?

this morning, i saw a caravan with just one working brake light, and GMC Jimmy with all of the brakes on ALL THE TIME.

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2015, 02:00:38 pm »

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzyfcys1aLM

HeliDriver · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2015, 02:03:11 pm »

Quote from: aquadorhj on March 30, 2015, 01:47:33 pm

Quote from: wing on March 30, 2015, 01:26:05 pm
All VW?

LOL. you would think so, eh?

this morning, i saw a caravan with just one working brake light, and GMC Jimmy with all of the brakes on ALL THE TIME.

Could be driver error on the Jimmy. My dad used to ride the brakes, always. I remember following him home once, and his brake lights were on for about 98.5% of the 50 km trip. Problem was not with the brake lights.

tpl · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2015, 02:31:19 pm »

Any of you guys remember the Volare from around '78-80 where there were usually one of:

Amber direction indicators on instead of brake lights
Tail lights went off when the brake lights came on
One amber and one brake light
Nothing
All rear lights except reverse came on dim when the brake OR indicators came on.

I suspected at the time a dubious ground somewhere...but not to rule out some kind of Daemon in the trunk.

redman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2015, 02:49:59 pm »

^^
^^^^
I remember both :

Schmengie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2015, 03:39:51 pm »

Quote from: tpl on March 30, 2015, 02:31:19 pm

Any of you guys remember the Volare from around '78-80 where there were usually one of:

Amber direction indicators on instead of brake lights
Tail lights went off when the brake lights came on
One amber and one brake light
Nothing
All rear lights except reverse came on dim when the brake OR indicators came on.

I suspected at the time a dubious ground somewhere...but not to rule out some kind of Daemon in the trunk.

That reminds me of my first car, a '67 Renault R10. The dash lights blinked with the turn signals, but not all the time. Never could figure that one out. I rolled that POS down an embankment one night, happiest night of my life. Well, maybe second happiest.....

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2015, 05:08:47 pm »

Sounds like a friend of mine's Peugeot 504. Him and his wife started smelling smoke and pulled over to the side of the TCH outside of Fredericton. The car promptly burst into flames and burned to the ground long before a fire truck showed up. He said it was the best thing that could have happened to it.

Fobroader · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2015, 05:10:50 pm »

For the vast majority of French cars, fire is the best way to get it out of your life.

Snowman · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2015, 05:13:59 pm »

Great topic and should have been deposited in VW Wink thread with a search

.... Anyways... as a pastern recognition type I have observed more deceased lighting from the Fiat and Hyundai camp as of late.

Snowman · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2015, 05:17:46 pm »

Sorry...Jetta
http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=75195.msg735207#msg735207

RX7heaven · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2015, 05:36:26 pm »

I try to check my brake lights but by the time I get out and around to the back the lights are out !

It is easier to check lights by watching the reflections in cars or walls. If you check headlights against a wall and back up you can tell if they are aimed too high. If the light goes up they may need to be adjusted down. Some peoples signal lights last forever because they never use them.

Firm · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2015, 11:33:35 am »

Jimmys (and related) have a common problem with the brake switch where it'll keep the lights on all the time (even with the key out) or not at all. So that's like the issue with that one particular driver.

I've noticed the same though, silly amounts of cars running around with bad brake lights. I think as cars have become more and more reliable people think about them less and less. Nobody bothers to check anything, ever, nevermind something as trivial as brake lights. And then those who might notice that a bulb is out are likely to inept to change it themselves, so it gets put off until the next dealer/shop visit....which might be months (or years) away.

Interest culprits around here are older GM minivans, Montanas and Ventures. When the driver steps on the brakes the turn signals weakly light up and sometimes you'll even get a reverse light going. Likely bad grounds mucking everything up, but sort of amusing to watch in traffic, lol.

Noto · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2015, 12:38:46 pm »

I've also noticed this a lot.

Quote from: aquadorhj on March 30, 2015, 01:19:52 pm

Why aren't these people ever ticketed ...

*sigh* the reason why these people aren't ticketed is...because...it's not illegal to have a brake-light out. It is VERY much illegal to have a headlight out, but you need only have ONE brake-light (the LED strip does NOT count) functioning. It is legal to drive with one brake-light out (in Ontario, at least).

Quote

Highway Traffic Act:
Lamps required on all motor vehicles except motorcycles
62. (1) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall carry three lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on each side of the front of the vehicle which shall display a white or amber light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only.

stupid, but that's the law.

Fobroader · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2015, 12:45:27 pm »

Quote from: Firm on March 31, 2015, 11:33:35 am

Jimmys (and related) have a common problem with the brake switch where it'll keep the lights on all the time (even with the key out) or not at all. So that's like the issue with that one particular driver.

I've noticed the same though, silly amounts of cars running around with bad brake lights. I think as cars have become more and more reliable people think about them less and less. Nobody bothers to check anything, ever, nevermind something as trivial as brake lights. And then those who might notice that a bulb is out are likely to inept to change it themselves, so it gets put off until the next dealer/shop visit....which might be months (or years) away.

Interest culprits around here are older GM minivans, Montanas and Ventures. When the driver steps on the brakes the turn signals weakly light up and sometimes you'll even get a reverse light going. Likely bad grounds mucking everything up, but sort of amusing to watch in traffic, lol.

My FIL has an 06 Chev Uplander, its a huge POS. He has had issues with his brake lights since day one, bulbs burning out fast, not working......that whole van was very poorly designed and put together. I like that there were a lot sold so there is lots of used and aftermarket parts available.

tpl · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2015, 12:53:10 pm »

Quote from: NoTo on March 31, 2015, 12:38:46 pm

I've also noticed this a lot.

Quote from: aquadorhj on March 30, 2015, 01:19:52 pm
Why aren't these people ever ticketed ...
*sigh* the reason why these people aren't ticketed is...because...it's not illegal to have a brake-light out. It is VERY much illegal to have a headlight out, but you need only have ONE brake-light (the LED strip does NOT count) functioning. It is legal to drive with one brake-light out (in Ontario, at least).

Quote
Highway Traffic Act:
Lamps required on all motor vehicles except motorcycles
62. (1) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall carry three lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on each side of the front of the vehicle which shall display a white or amber light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only.

stupid, but that's the law.

The text you quote Noto suggests that if the White/Amber positioning lights on the front of the vehicle work then you are OK. However I suspect that somewhere it mentions light output and that would do it. But the fog lights may well be bright enough ( brighter than an old sealed beam which is probably what the numbers would be based on) to be ok. As you say, stupid.

Noto · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2015, 01:43:01 pm »

Quote from: tpl on March 31, 2015, 12:53:10 pm

Quote from: NoTo on March 31, 2015, 12:38:46 pm
Quote
Highway Traffic Act:
Lamps required on all motor vehicles except motorcycles
62. (1) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall carry three lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on each side of the front of the vehicle which shall display a white or amber light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only.
The text you quote Noto suggests that if the White/Amber positioning lights on the front of the vehicle work then you are OK.

No it doesn't. The text is clear that you need THREE lamps, consisting of TWO up front AND one in the rear. Again, the LED strip cannot count (due to the Regulation (not cited) that specifies that the tail lamps must be at the CORNERS of the vehicle).