Motoring Discussion > Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ?	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: R.P.	Replies: 25

Fri 5 Nov 10 12:18   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - R.P.

Been behind two of these recently where the brake lights flicker when the driver brakes - suggestion of electrical problems ? Read some stuff about duff climate controls as well. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 12:42   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - VxFan

Funny you should mention that. I was behind a 59 reg one yesterday with intermittant brake lights. I think J500ANT mentioned on here that he was having trouble with his CC as well. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 13:04   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - madf

A local one is unique. Built with only one brake light - or so it appears.... Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 21:30   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Westpig

When you say flicker.... could it be intermittent flashing when braking hard?...Because they do that, do differnetiate between hard braking and normal braking. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 21:33   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - R.P.

No it was in a queue to get on a roundabout - very low level sort of braking, it would have been the same with the first one I saw - It's erratic flickering more than a pattern sort of effect I'd expect with emergency braking. They were both well specced cars and I think they were LED lights. But all three elements were flickering in the same way. The X1 has these emergency braking type of lights. Last edited by: Pugugly on Fri 5 Nov 10 at 21:34 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 21:36   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - rtj70

I would not expect a car's brake lights to flash regardless of how hard you're braking. Newer cars might change the intensity of the lights depending on how hard you're braking. And some will automatically activate the hazards for extreme braking (the car assumes there is a hazard). It sounds to me there could be a problem from the description. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 22:08   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - spamcan61

>> I would not expect a car's brake lights to flash regardless of how hard >> you're braking. >> >> Newer cars might change the intensity of the lights depending on how hard you're braking. >> And some will automatically activate the hazards for extreme braking (the car assumes there is >> a hazard). >> >> It sounds to me there could be a problem from the description. >> Thelooks like there are different versions, even just looking at BMW:- 1 series - BMW Brake Force Display system does indeed sound like there is a difference in area illuminated between normal and hard braking, but not flashing:- www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/1series/3door/2007/allfacts/ergonomics/brakelight.html X6 - Adaptive Brake Lights on the BMW X6. "One reason for the high visibility of the BMW X6 is the Adaptive Brake Lights. When you brake normally, the back lights go on as normal; when you brake in an emergency, they blink several times per second to warn the cars behind. When every split-second counts, this enhances safety all round" www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/x6/x6/2007/allfacts/ergonomics/brake_force_display.html Last edited by: spamcan61 on Fri 5 Nov 10 at 22:09 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 22:10   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - R.P.

This was a definitely a "something not quite right" thing with the Astra, low speed - no drama. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 22:12   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - spamcan61

>> This was a definitely a "something not quite right" thing with the Astra, low speed >> - no drama. >> Agreed, I was trying to edit my message to say that but I couldn't 'cos you'd replied to it. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 5 Nov 10 22:13   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - R.P.

Sorry :-0 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 00:08   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - VxFan

>> I would not expect a car's brake lights to flash regardless of how hard you're braking. Vauxhall have used this method for at least 4 years now. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 00:07   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - VxFan

>> When you say flicker.... could it be intermittent flashing when braking hard? Ditto PU's comments. I was sat behind the 59 reg Astra in a stationary queue, so it wasn't the adaptive brake lights that flash for the duration the ABS is working. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 08:18   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Bigtee

It's normal my astra did it. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 10:37   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Redviper

My Vectra, the Brake lights flash if the ABS has kicked in. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 10:44   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - R.P.

Neither of the cars I saw would have been in a position whereby ABS had kicked in. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 10:45   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Iffy

...My Vectra, the Brake lights flash if the ABS has kicked in... I must try to have a look next time I slam on the anchors in the CC3. :) Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 13:12   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - VxFan

>> I must try to have a look next time I slam on the anchors in the CC3. :) Should be easy to do. Just reverse full pelt towards a plate glass shop door or window and remember to look in the rear view mirror when you hit the brakes. Just be careful you don't get accused of ram raiding though. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 14:14   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Redviper

>> >> I must try to have a look next time I slam on the anchors >> in the CC3. :) >> Thats what i did, in a deserted supermarket car park at night covered in snow, didn't have to go to fast, and i could see the reflection of the car in the side of one of the trolley shelters I just wanted to get a feel of the car in the snow, what its like when the ABS kicks in, and I read in the owners manual (IIRC or somewhere on the net) that the brake lights flash when the ABS is activated and i had to see for myself. Last edited by: Redviper on Sat 6 Nov 10 at 14:15 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 14:26   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Iffy

...Thats what i did, in a deserted supermarket car park at night covered in snow, didn't have to go to fast, and i could see the reflection of the car in the side of one of the trolley shelters... Were you in Morrisons in Darlo this time? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 6 Nov 10 14:29   Vauxhall Astra I - Defective brake lights ? - Redviper

>> Were you in Morrisons in Darlo this time? >> Thats the one, but I didn't and wont join the Chavs that do handbrake turns in there, I was lucky enough that there was no one around so I had just a quick go. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 27 Jan 11 12:26   Vauxhall Astra I - Flashing brake lights - Redviper

I know this is a old thread, and apologies for not re-reading this again throughly However I was sat behind a brand new Astra this morning, at a junction, and the rear lights definitely to flicker on and off, as if there was a lose connection or something - all three of them do it regardless of the car moving or not, and its not in sequence IE its a random series of flashes as if its really not meant to do it. it certainly didn't look right to me Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 27 Jan 11 13:02   Vauxhall Astra I - Flashing brake lights - VxFan

Redviper, Yes, a few of the new Astra's are showing signs of faulty brake lights. Quite possibly a poor connection in the brake switch. ps, have moved it to the thread discussing it. Last edited by: VxFan on Thu 27 Jan 11 at 13:05 Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 27 Jan 11 14:47   Vauxhall Astra I - Flashing brake lights - R.P.

Seen a few of them since as well - definitely not a hazard warning sort of flicker. I knew I wasn't mad. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 27 Jan 11 16:40   Vauxhall Astra I - Flashing brake lights - Dave_

I was unaware of this issue until today when I was behind a red 60 plate one in traffic in Nottingham, doing exactly what's described here - i.e. All three brake lights momentarily flicking off and back on again a handful of times. I assumed it to be a badly adjusted brake pedal switch only *just* making contact. This will be an ongoing thing, because I suspect the demographic of new Astra drivers and that of people who know, and give a hoot, about the emerging brake light issue do not overlap very much. :) Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 27 Jan 11 16:47   Vauxhall Astra I - Flashing brake lights - R.P.

I saw one with both rear lights that had failed and a flickering centre light.....but that's another thread ! Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 27 Jan 11 19:04   Vauxhall Astra I - Flashing brake lights - VxFan

Good job Vauxhall now offer a lifetime warranty ;o) Reply to this message | Report message