Fuse 46 - Found a cause for it popping.

[pdxmotorhead]

If your blowing fuse 46 I just found 1 more cause for it blowing...

The center window brake light. The cover is held on with 3 internal metal spring clips, the plastic retainers for the circuit board had given up on my light. Letting the board slide down and short + to - on the board when I hit a bump. Spent all day tracing wires banging on the car trying to figure out where it was, and randomly pulled the light unit apart to see if a socket was bad. I resetaed the board after covering the conductors with black electrical tape to prevent the board from hitting the spring clips again.

Anybody got a rear upper brake light they would sell me really cheap? , mine is not going to last....

Dave

[John Firestone]

No chance of fixing the PCB fasteners with MMA adhesive (my preference) or epoxy?

[pdxmotorhead]

The plastic is all brittle. and most of the retention bits came off, I may try using epoxy to encapsulate it back together. But my lens is cracked as well, (Note to self be careful if you have it apart...) it cracks easy!

When I get the new one I am going to reinforce it with some resin so the bits that failed are not under stress like they are stock.

Dave

[John Firestone]

I had the same problem with the ABS plastic ring that holds the glass of my front loading washing machine. Fortunately, enough plastics remained to recreate the missing bits and reenforce the design with metal-filled epoxy.

I first mixed up a little with a toothpick and then stuck it in a discrete spot to test the epoxy on the plastic. This is a little trick my father taught me. You can tell where we've been by the trail of glued toothpicks.

[pdxmotorhead]

Good idea, the plastic sits in the sun all the time, I actually cracked one of the lenses handling the part, May even build my own, been wanting some wicked bright LED's up there anyway....

Dave

[John Firestone]

LED brake lights are a good thing. There are some nice buck-mode ICs that will drive a string of LEDs.

[cooljess76]

Dave, I have a third brake light off of my m3. I know it's not an exact fit, but if you want to experiment with it or need internal parts, it's yours. Just PM me your addy and I'll ship it out on monday.