e36 Brake Circuit Failure

[ekseniks]

Hey guys,

So I was driving home in traffic today when this warning (Brake Circuit Failure) came up on the OBC. It also said should check the owners manual. After doing so, I was told to check the fuse, so check it, its fine, but i replace it anyway. Problem is still there. Change the fuse back to the old one. Problem goes away.

I've seen the error once before but it went away before I even made it home.

Is it a wiring problem? Where can I look? Has anyone else come across this before?

Thanks

 

[freerider]

very very very common, normally just the globe holders at the back that arent making proper contact to the metal strips of the light cluster. Can also be the brake light switch at the brake pedal, which you can get from a scrap yard for cheap.

I would take the globe holders out and clean up the contact points and replace.

 

[Peejay]

Or it could be the brake light switch failed. Next time the error comes up check the back of the car u might notice that when pressing the brake padel the brake lights go off and when u leave the pedal the brake lights stay on.

 

[Threetwoeight]

Brake light circuit failure = brake light switch mounted on the brake pedal. When you get this message you will notice that both brake lights come on but NOT the center brake light. The pedal mounted switch is actually 2 switches in 1. The one fails before the other. I fixed it once but because of age of metal component inside only lasts a month or so. Buying a switch from the scrap yard will at best only delay the problem. Buy a new one (very exensive R500) and not have the problem for another 15 years.

Brake light failure = One of the two brake light globes mounted in the tail light cluster. Could be bad contact like Freerider said, I turn the globe holder to lock and the back a little.

Brake lights failure = Both of the two brake light globes mounted in .......

 

[328-iM]

I had the same problem and it was the brakelight in the window that were blown,changed the globe and problem solved.
Thanx for advice on brake switch will have a look....