Have a continuous 'Check Rear Lights' warning. This began occurring last week after some 'aggressive' driving in the work parking lot

Unfortunately, my hooliganism has resulted in mucho annoyance because for the life of me, I can't get this warning message to go away. All of the bulbs are working fine, and I cleaned all of the bulbs, holders, connectors and plugs with electrical connection cleaner.

On another forum, I stumbled upon a gentleman with the same problem. He discovered that the root cause of the issue in his case was a loose bulb in the socket. I definitely have a loose bulb of my own (the passenger side rear turn signal). I've attempted to correct it by adjusting the tungsten piece but I still cannot achieve a tight fitment. I believe that the bulb is grounding enough to WORK, but not enough to please the sensor. Maybe I could wrap some kind of material around the bulb a few times to make it fit more snugly in the hole, and hopefully establish a better ground?

Questions/comments/concerns/criticisms?

 

I doubt the hooliganism caused the fault. Make sure you have the correct bulb part number and if the bulbs are loose in the sockets, consider buying replacement sockets (I think you will find a match on the parts store rack) or get some from a junk yard and splice them in. In my case, the bulbs burned fine, but reported bulb out due to a loose socket.

 

Hi Ross,

Thanks for the reply. What I meant was that I think my aggressive driving caused the bulb to come loose in the socket. At least that's when the problem started, anyway. Funny coincidence, it just so happens that I run an automotive warehouse and am currently sitting on about 10 m. dollars worth of inventory LOL. The problem with my tail light sockets, however, is that I don't believe you can just replace the socket, as it comes as a complete tail light circuit board. I would have to replace the whole thing to replace one of them..

 

Yeah, I forgot about that plug in arrangement. I must have used a hook tool to spring the contacts back into position. I thought I had replaced the socket- must have been another car I was thinking of. Senility!

 

I get the 'check rear lights' message because of an erratic cruise control switch. Cruise off never, cruise on about half the time. Someone posted that a failing brake light switch was also causing the message. I suspect that intermittent and/or erratic input to the BCM is generating the message.

 

Some brand bulbs have a brass colored base and others steel. The difference in resistance can cause issues. It is always good to check for the correct part number
as well. I used to have a bulb warning even though they all lit normally. I have not
had a problem for about a year.

 

Thanks for the response guys. My next step (if the loose bulb fitment isn't an issue) would be to replace the Brake Light Switch, as it does not seem to coincide with any issue involve the cruise control at this point. Will report back in a few days when I have some time to work on it

 

Any luck fixing the issue?

 

I was too struggling to fix the same issue. Finally I replaced the bulbs and that was the final cure.

 

Mindugs...you hit on a good point.
Over a period as the bulbs age, they seem to develop resistance in
their bases.
I always replace mine evry couple or three years.

Always use a dab of di-electric grease on the contacts.
This prevents 'fretting'....I learnt this from my motorcycle days.

I use the point of a compass to pull up the spring contact in
the base of the bulb holder and also 'pull inwards' the wall
of the socket well which provides a good snug fit for the bulb.
End of problem.

It is definately sporadic voltage spikes that will upset the BCM

 

Ditto that! I thought I had a loose bulb but finally just decided to replace it -- now I don't get the message. Worth a try.