Odd one this.

I got the message and checked that the stop light was not working. 

Opened the light cluster and checked every bulb for continuity. They all show working on a multimeter.

Rechecked the stop light bulb socket and cleaned the bulb with contact cleaner.

Refitted the unit and get same message and no stop light. Right one is fine.

 

I didn't actually power up the bulb while out of the cluster as I presumed that as it passed the continuity check it should be OK.

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance, Ted

Check for voltage with meter at the lamp holder contact, if correct voltage present, gently tap bulb (if filament type) while testing for continuity. 

I will try that. Thanks. I would probably have done that earlier, but I need a pedal pusher and don't have one until tomorrow.

Will post any results and methods in case anyone is following this thread.

 

Swap the two bulbs, right side for left side, see if the warning goes to other side, maybe.

If you can read the fault code it’ll tell you slightly more. The fault code will tell you whether it thinks the bulb is open circuit, or alternatively whether there’s a short to ground.

 

Also, does the bulb work when the tail lights are on? On these cars the stop/tail bulb is not a dual filament bulb like it is on many cars, but it’s a single filament bulb that gets driven at two different voltages (or does it change the resistance - not sure). So if the bulb is good, it should work as a tail light; if the bulb is bad then it’ll do neither tail nor brake.

Edited 22 February, 20251 yr by Dr_Mike_Oxgreen

Just to add: The above is true for a pre-facelift model, which your 2012 car will be. The facelift cars may be different - perhaps even LEDs?

This is all good intel, Will try all ideas and report back.

Thanks people!

Ahhhh! Well it is sorted now.

The bulb I had to replace was difficult to identify on your own, even backing up against a reflective surface.

Unfortunately the manual diagram isn't the best, and no matter how hard I read it, it seemed to refer to a different bulb socket that the one I was looking at.

Anyway, the single small bulb is probably the 2 voltage type. Halfords 955 W16W just over £2 a pop.

As I mentioned earlier, the continuity was OK on all bulbs and that's what threw me. When I put a full 12v over this one, it shimmered and died, but kept continuity.

So for this 2012 model L&K, the warning for the stop light means "don't bother testing it, just replace it."

My old classic bikes have proper bulbs with twin filament (grey hairs showing).

Thanks for all comments, it's great to know we ain't alone.

Ted.