Check Right Brake Light Problem

[Muffin1259]

Hi All,

I have a 2001 Lincoln LS V8. Yesterday the Check Right Brake Light came on. This has happened intermittently for while now, but it usually goes off. Yesterday it stayed on. I brought it to the dealer but they were too busy to look at it, so I brought it to a mechanic shop up the road. The mechanic took apart the brake light and said it was the connector. Although the light worked fine after he said I should replace the connector.

He phoned me today and said he would have to order the part that the socket was bad and he needs to replace the wire harness for the Grand TOTAL of $235.92...... And, like I said the light seems to be working fine now.

Not sure but it sounds a little steep to me. Yesterday he's talking about going to a junk yard and getting a part...today he wants $235 and change??? Not sure if I should let him fix it.

Any help and/or opinion would be greatly appreciated.

I think I might be gettig hosed!

Thanks in advance...

 

[eastcoastLS]

He may be right... I get the same message even though my tail light works fine. I did notice when I was sealing it up from a leak that it looked burnt around where the bulb plugs into the connector.

See the pics in this thread..

 

[steagle]

that's a common issue on these cars. especially the brake light bulbs have been known to essentially melt into the connector and at that point you might as well get a new tail light assembly (like i just did and thanks to the LvC'er who sold it to me). but before you take anyones word for it, just take the light off, check the bulbs and connectors yourself.

 

[remogaggi]

i had the same problem. water was appearing in my spare tire wheel well. it's a leak somewhere, when the leak fills up in the lamp it blows the bulb. i drilled a microscopic hole in the light shield so that the water won't build, haven't had the problem since.

 

[Muffin1259]

Thanks for the responses and advice guys. I checked and it does look a little scorched around the connectors. But the light still work. The check brake light hasn't popped up again.

If it happens again, which I'm sure it will, is the price that I was quoted fair?

Thanks again!