Lighting fault when braking - Please Help!

[minielise]

Hi,

I have a 2001 mini cooper has done 70000mls without any problems, but have just developed an elecrical fault. All lights work perfectly but now when i brake the front driver sidelight comes on.

I would really appreciate any ideas.

Thanks

[C.Noble]

The right rear brake/sidelight bulb is most likely the cause,

either incorrectly fitted (it should only fit one way, but it is possible to force it in the wrong way around),

Or, the wrong bulb type is fitted, it should be a 380 bulb (it should have two filaments inside it, like two bulbs in one)

Or, you are unlucky enough to have a faulty bulb that has 'siamesed' that is that the two filaments inside are touching somewhere which is allowing the current from the brake circuit to flow into the RH sidelight circuit.

So you are gonna have to remove it to check it, if you dont have another bulb to try, you could always try swapping the right hand bulb with the left hand one and see if the problem switches to the other side of the car, if it does... youve confirmed it is the bulb!.

Let us know how you get on.