The Electrics, Dashboard and Heater 23 Stop lights
44 Citroen XM Internet Reference Version 1.0
3/3/99
23 Stop lights
Okay knowledgeable people, I wonder if anyone has an answer for this one:
When I indicate left, and sometimes right, the warning on the display says that my stop lights are not
working (defective). It started off as an intermitent fault, but now does it all the time. Yet my brake lights
are fine, as I’ve had my wife drive behind me to test this out. It seems to happen more at speed. The
car is a 90 2.0i Sei .
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This is an inherent problem with these cars. There is a monitoring device for the rear lamp circuits to
give warning of bulb failure. The monitor is looking for high resistance in the lamp circuits at the rear.
The lamp holders suffer from oxidation where the bulb fits into the sockets and the plug socket
connections. This results in high impedance and rendom indication of failed bulbs.
The solution is to remove the lamp assemblies (which are located behind a flap held with one button on
each side of the boot). First remove the plug connectors. Then pull the flap off the button and you will
see a long plastic device that holds all the bulbs. There is a single pair of clips that you press together to
release the assembly and carefully withdraw. Carefully, so as not to damage the bulbs.
Once out remove the bulbs and clean the sockets and the bulbs, where contact is made, with emery or
a fine file.Then replace and the problem will disappear.
I find I have to do this about once a year.
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Now, I do not profess to be a great expert in these matters, but this sounds like there is a dodgy earth
somewhere around the rear lights. I recommend taking all the bulbs out, giving the contacts a good rub
down with glasspaper. You also need to disconnect the cables to the rear light clusters and clean the
contacts *very* well with glasspaper if poss. The connectors also need smearing with vaseline.
Another dodgy area may be an earthing point - check all you can find, take em to bits and get em shiny.
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The lamp holders suffer from oxidation where the bulb fits into the sockets and the plug socket
connections. This results in high impedance and rendom indication of failed bulbs.
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Subject to expert correction, when it becomes necessary my plan is to apply a smidgeon of
copper-loaded grease (brake anti-squeal/battery terminal) to the contacts before reinserting - not *too*
much to avoid shorting; that should cut down on the oxidation.
Stop lights (*!*)
I had the same fault in my XM I solved it by running two new earth wire from the rear bulb holder earth
to a good earth point, in the later cars they had it already done
bry k faulkner
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