Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 160 Series (90, 75, 164 Sedans) => Topic started by: ARQ164 Shane on June 27, 2018, 04:57:32 PM

Title: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on June 27, 2018, 04:57:32 PM
Hi,
It seems to have no brake tail lights, I have changed out the globes with no success
I would like to check my I69 relay but I'm not sure where it is? Help
shane
91Qv  :-[
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: Citroënbender on June 27, 2018, 05:37:56 PM
Have you checked the earths at the actual bulb holders? If it's anything like the equivalent Pug the earth is rubbish and needs fortifying. A little extra check here can be looking at the rear blinkers; if they're weak then you have a problem with earthing.

Also test for voltage at the taillight assembly main plugs.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: V AR 164 on June 27, 2018, 06:07:23 PM
Check the brake light switch attached to the brake pedal under the dashboard. It is a little white sensor with a threaded body that is screwed into a small bracket. Had a similar issue with my car, replaced the switch and the lights worked again.

To check if it is faulty, pull off the connector and get someone to stand behind the car. Get a wire and bridge the connector, if the lights turn on, it is a faulty switch. If not, it could be a relay as you mentioned. I do not know where that relay is. It could also be a fuse, but you probably have checked that already.

Andrew.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: Citroënbender on June 27, 2018, 06:18:12 PM
You could have cleaned the switch contacts using carby cleaner and grey Scotchbrite after dismantling, and saved some coin...  :P

Bazz may have an opinion on "contact enhancers" such as Stabilant-22A but I've friends who swear by it when used correctly.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on June 28, 2018, 09:08:25 AM
Thank for the help guys, i will check it out today  :)
cheers shane

Ps his anyone used LED globs for tail light ?
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: V AR 164 on June 28, 2018, 04:25:47 PM
No I only use standard globes for the tailights. The LED versions can be pretty pricey and I don't see the need for it. Maybe on the number plate, a white LED will be good, but the stop lights aren't really necessary.

Andrew.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on June 28, 2018, 06:14:31 PM
I have just got some LED'S globes for $10. in white
I have try two earth wires and cleaning the contacts with no success  :'(

cheers Shane
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: GTVeloce on June 28, 2018, 08:58:23 PM
The white LED bulbs will make your lights look a little orange when it is passed through the red lens. Better to use red LED bulbs for this purpose and save white LED bulbs for reverse and number plate lights.

Also, perhaps best not to use LED bulbs till you know the system is working first. They aren't always a plug and play system due to polarity and other possible issues. Also, they will possibly throw an error on your ARC as the system will be expecting greater load. Can be rectified with the correct resistor.

Get the multimeter out and follow the trail. At some point you will find an irregularity.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on June 29, 2018, 11:10:58 AM
Thank you for all the great ideas, I am going to stick with the old globes.
Today did as Andrew said and took out my brake switch (see photos) I did find a burnt contact on one side.
But it still not working not shore were to look next ?
cheers Shane
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on June 29, 2018, 02:49:58 PM
I found an old brake switch from an auto 164 not shore if it will work?

cheers Shane
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: V AR 164 on June 29, 2018, 04:30:53 PM
Quote from: ARQ164 Shane on June 29, 2018, 02:49:58 PM
I found an old brake switch from an auto 164 not shore if it will work?

cheers Shane


Yeah it should work perfectly fine
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on June 30, 2018, 09:15:40 AM
so today i put in the second switch with no joy  :-\ so as people have suggested i will look at the ARC

cheers guy, always having fun  :o
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: bonno on June 30, 2018, 02:21:18 PM
Shane
Find attached fault finding and troubleshooting extract that may assist in sorting out the brake light problem.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on July 03, 2018, 08:08:28 PM
I have on the alfabb talking to Steve and this is what he seed guys.

OK finally got into 164 Euro wiring diagrams on cardisc.com 164 DVD. stop light wiring diagram on page 32 and very simple compared to our USA spec 164 wiring diagram.

I can't scan it for you because my scanner/printer in FL house now. My old printer I have here does not scan documents to pdf file.

Any how power from battery power goes to 10A Fuse F15 in main fuse box G1 and then to H3 brake switch in a white-yellow to white wire at pin 1 of switch at brake pedal.

Check for 12v at white wire.
Jumper white wire to white-red white at pin 2 of switch and see if brake lights work.

It appears Euro system does not have I-69 relay nor does it go through N22 ARCU. However, the white-red wire from H3 brake switch does go to C10 instrument cluster connector Ci pin 6. Then red wires from cluster connector Cii pins 3 and 7 go to L/R tail light brake light bulbs.

So I'm going to give it a go, I will let you guys know what happens
cheers and drive safe
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on July 03, 2018, 08:11:56 PM
thanks Bonno
I will use your pages too, thank mate
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on July 11, 2018, 03:52:06 PM
Today i fixed my tail lights
I found a third brake peddle switch in my bits and bobs and now the light has come on
all 3 hey but I still have the light on the dash  I also found that my brake fluid cap is stuffed, anyone got one?

thank you to all the people that helped me out cheers
photo of the three switches part number ending in 01, 02, 03.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: Citroënbender on July 11, 2018, 05:45:56 PM
What a saga! At least it's fixed. 

The equivalent Pugs have a separate brake light fail detection unit under the dash, I think it senses when the "load" of lighting is outside of range and triggers the dash warning lamp.  It illuminates on startup, you push the brakes once and if all is OK the warning goes out.
Title: Re: 164 qv tail lights
Post by: ARQ164 Shane on July 12, 2018, 05:46:11 PM
Hi Citroenbender
yes it was a saga sorry, I think may have put LED globes in that may be why it not reading no load.
I guess I will have to put the incandescent globes back then.

thank mate