High level stop light

High level stop light (roof level) not working. Is this an MOT failure?

Car is a SAAB 9000. Compared to modern cars, it looks like the high level stop light was put on as an afterthougt by the designers, as it is quite exposed. Disagnostics suggests a wiring failure rather than bulb problem. Wiring jumps from top of the hinged tailgate to between the roof and the roof lining, so it's quite complicated to trace.

Reply to
johannes
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Probably...

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"Additional stop lamps fitted and connected must be tested. Where extra lamps are fitted and there is doubt as to whether they are connected, the benefit of this doubt should be given to the presenter."

Almost certainly a fractured wire where it flexes. If you've got an old, dead multimeter, the leads from those are made from wire that's designed to be very flexible.

Reply to
Adrian

either fix it or remove it is the best bet. most mot places don't fail for a faulty middle stop lamp (from direct experience) , but it is probably still illegal as far as the Police are concerned even if it passes an mot.

Reply to
Mrcheerful

As ever, the answer is here:

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Only two stop lamps are required. If additional ones are fitted and wired, they must work. If they use more than one light source, at least

50% of the sources must work.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

OK, thanks for tip. The 9000 is a very strong car, but inevitably after

20+ years small things starts to crack. I recently managed to replace the drivers inside door handle, estimated to have been yanked open 75,000 times, so eventually it broke off.
Reply to
johannes

OK thanks. Something to think about. Normal domestic wires are also quite flexible, at least for the duratuion of the MOT...

Reply to
johannes

Check that both the correct lower bulbs are working. On that model if a proper brake light bulb fails it swaps to another bulb and turns off the high level light. Why? F%$k knows - a mate had this - took ages and a replacement high level light to find the fault. Dave

Reply to
snot

High and low stop light seem not to be related in this car. I have had all kinds of combinations of bulb failure. Both low lights are always working as it is quick to replace bulbs.

Reply to
johannes

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