Well my high level brake light went off yesterday. The whole thing doesn't work, I've done a search and found it to be a pricey fix from Stealer's and wondered if any one has done a DIY on it??

Thanks in advance.

it must be worth checking that the unit is getting power first. I have not had to take mine apart / off the car so can't offer many more words of wisdom!

A bump as mine is off too and would appreciate any help!!!!

A bump as mine is off too and would appreciate any help!!!!

I went and got a Multi metre yesterday so tommorow will give it a whirl, my dad rekons he replaced his led brake light on a previous car with an led kit from maplin.

I'l try it some time in the week and post the results

Depending on the year, it will be either bulbs or LED's in the brake light. Irrespective of that, however, if the entire unit has stopped working then it can only be the feed or earth connections so you should be able to fix or repair that pretty easily.

Agreed; also, depending on how handy you are with a soldering iron, and the unit design, it may be possible to replace failed LEDs, irrespective of what Haynes says! I don't have a spare to try and dismantle though!

it may be possible to replace failed LEDs, irrespective of what Haynes says!

Are you suggesting that the Haynes Book of Automotive Fables is possibly sometimes inaccurate and even occasionally incorrect? :eek:

I am now officially in shock and shall have to go and have a lie down...

Are you suggesting that the Haynes Book of Automotive Fables is possibly sometimes inaccurate and even occasionally incorrect? :eek:

I am now officially in shock and shall have to go and have a lie down...

No. I am suggesting that it omits jobs that they consider "too difficult", even when the detail would make useful reference info for people who would not attempt the job themselves.

Mine was dodgy (03 vRS Combi) when I bought it. Dealer fixed it as part of the deal, but I believe they are glued in and the dealer had to chop the cable to replace the cluster.

they are a pain my estate is on it's third (soon to be 4th) in just under 4 years all for water getting into them.

the dealer finds it is a pain as auroan says it is bonded into the spolier and they have to remove the wires off the connector to get it.

Well I give it a quick go today and cant get the light out. It seems to just crack when pressure is applied. So I think a DIY repair is out of the question. I'll give it another go tomorrow and see if i get any where. If not got all day Saturday.

Cheers guys I'll keep you updated.

Yes they are bonded on and had mine replaced under warranty

From what i gather its not the LED' that fail - its the connection, i can see water inside the thing so i assume that's the problem

From what i gather its not the LED' that fail - its the connection, i can see water inside the thing so i assume that's the problem

yes that is why mine is going in to have it's 4th one fitted beucase it has filled with water again.

lets hope that it is 4th time lucky:O

I made sure the dealer put silicone sealent on the hole where the wire goes through the body work, as this why mine had failed.

Well to bring an old post up, i finally got around to buying a new brake light unit. The part which failed was the circuit board; corroded away, shorted and blew the resistor and the LED's.

the only thing i would like to know is what is the best to use to stick it and seal it to the spoiler? Thanks again