Just curious as I have blown rear brake light...should Maxidot warn me about this...or is it just headlights?! :confused:

Yes, I think it should. Mine went this week and I got a yellow lamp on the dash, and a more specific message on the maxidot screen telling me exactly which bulb had gone.

I might be wrong here but i think they work by maintaining a small voltage across the bulb at all times (i was reading around 1v IIRC when i checked the terminals while fitting parking sensors).

I think you could probably check for sure by removing the bulb completely, and see if that gets the warning to show. On the other hand, it might be just a vRS feature, but i would expect it also to be present on your top spec L&K?

I might ring the dealer to check...as I was under the impression it did all bulbs.

Actually I'll go home re-read the manual first...then ring the dealer!

I had a brake light pop and MaxiDot quoted: "left rear brake light defective" This was on an Elegance so the L&K definitely has it.

It also does sidelights and reversing lights (I swapped them until I got another bulb) etc so it's pretty comprehensive.

Vimto from the handbook:-

The warning light comes on for a few seconds after ignition is switched on and goes out after several seconds.

If the warning light does not go out or comes on when driving, a bulb in the headlights or the parking light in the brake lights is defective

The following text will be displayed in the information display*

"Dipped Beam front left defective.

A peep sounds as an additional warning signal

Page 33 of owners book

Right...Something is faulty on my car then! I will ring the dealers to see if I can get it checked out at somepoint next week.

I reckon it's still worth pulling a couple of bulbs out to see if you can get the warning to work. It's pretty unlikely, but it could be the case that your faulty bulb has failed in such a way that it is shorting out (therefore still drawing a slight current), regardless of whether the filament has broken.

A friend of mine has experienced this situation on his volvo, and also the reverse, where it reports a good bulb as faulty, due to increased resistance caused by dirt on the bulb contacts.

:iagree:

I'd hoik a bulb out to see what's what.

IIRC my brake failure warning was not instantaneous, it took a while to realise it was duff.

I know for a fact the absence of a bulb is instant as there is an open circuit/zero load.

Cheers guys...well I'm gonna have to wait till Tuesday now. Had to take the Pool car home this weekend as I'm working away on Monday. So car is stuck at work :(

Might possibly be the brakelight switch.

Not sure if its the same display as the Superb, but mine only told me a brake light had gone, not which one in particular...not much help!!!

However, it should warn you.

Paul

Well the light is not working when I turn on the headlamps or when I press the brakes. So think it might be worth taking out the bulb and making sure its seated correctly!

IIRC the brake light bulb is a single filament, there are 4 seperate bulbs for the rear 'C' lighting. It should only come on with the brake pedal. Take the bulb out and visually inspect the filament, if you have a test meter check the resistance.

I assume the other rear brake light works OK so you could even try swapping them over.

FYI:

If a rear light bulb fails the rear brake light is run at a lower voltage to act as a temporary rear light. Adds to the single filament theory.

Its the top light of the left 'C'..and at the moment the brake light doesn't work, nor does the normal light. I haven't taken it out yet, but assumed it was a double filament as both stopped working in same location.

I'm going to have to look at mine now because I could swear the brake light is single filament but it was a while ago and I could be mistaken. I presume the estate and hatch light clusters are of the same configuaration. :confused:

EDIT:

I've pulled the lighting cluster apart and found the following.

As looking at the bulb assembly when removed:

Top: Single filament bulb (dual voltage for rear light and brake light)

Left: Indicator bulb (no prizes for guessing the orange bulb)

Right: reversing light bulb

Bottom: fog light bulb (N/S when enabled)

There are also 2 smaller bulbs that do rear lighting but they just plug into the light cluster. There are in fact 3 bulbs that make up the 'C' shape rear ligthing, the 2 small bulbs and the brake light bulb on a reduced voltage. Not the 4 that I mistakenly suggested in a prior post

There is nothing to stop you swapping the reversing light bulb over to see what happens as they are the same.

Right...its definitely the top one! So that could explain why both are out together. Unfortunately I won't be able to check till Tuesday.

Gonna have a poke around in the Pool car as its a Octy aswell, see how it all works.

Not sure if it helps, but the top bulbs in mine are definitely double filament stop/tail bulbs. Type 556 (566?) 12v 21/4w with offset pins. Nightmare to find - halfords dont sell anything that fits! Had to visit main dealer to replace (typical!), but not outrageously priced (£2) so i wasn't too upset.

What with this and my mp3 stream (lack of) mystery, I'm starting to wonder whether I've just bought something that looks like an octavia, not an actual one!

On my car is says very clearly which bulb doesn`t work! (Maxidot) When I was towing a trailer it even said "Left trailer indicator light not working" (or similar I cant remember the exact text) But it really impressed me!!

ArvidG

OK I finally got a chance to look at the bulb and result is....faulty bulb!

As soon as I took it out, I got rear left break light failed message on maxidot

But looking at the bulb, no filament is broken. Swapped it with the other brake light and worked fine. So I guess its off to halfrauds tomorrow to get a new bulb replacement. Might get a couple and keep it in the car as spares.

Cheers guys for all the help!