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MoT query - zookeeper
hi room, i noticed the other day as the misses stopped at the top of the road that the high brake light didnt come on as she stopped, the other 2 brake lights were fine, is this an issue with the mot or are 2 brake lights sufficient, or could the high brake light have been disconnected on purpose by the prev owner ( is it a done thing?) thanks

Edited by Pugugly on 20/02/2009 at 15:20

mot query - Number_Cruncher
This is not striaghtforward.

Additional stop lamps, if fitted, and connected, must be tested, and must work.

However, if the tester has any doubt about whether the lamp unit is connected, the benefit of the doubt should be given, and the vehicle should pass even if the additional stop lamp does not work.

If a high level stop lamp has a number of light sources within it, and if the device is to be tested (i.e., if the unit can be verified as being connected) at least one of these light sources must work.

mot query - gmac
if the device is to be tested (i.e. if the unit can be verified as
being connected) at least one of these light sources must work.

This must be impossible to verify without disassembling, especially in hatchbacks where the light unit is usually in a tight fitting recess.
mot query - Number_Cruncher
Yes - although practically, if the high level lamp is a standard fit item, then, there's no real reason that it wouldn't be connected. However, if the device is a spurious aftermarket item, who knows?

For the OP, I would suggest that fixing the fault is unlikely to break the bank, so why not just mend it?

mot query - martint123
I suspect that if you gaffer tape over anything that makes it look like a brake light then it should pass.
mot query - Altea Ego
If the wire in the hatch loom then breaks, is it connected?
mot query - redviper
does that mean, that if one or few of the LED's in the centre high level brake light - where to die (no longer work) its a MOT failiure?

Edited by redviper on 20/02/2009 at 17:16

mot query - Number_Cruncher
>>at least one of these light sources must work.

No, failure of any number of LEDs is OK, and the vehicle should pass the MOT on this point as long as one of them works!

mot query - SpamCan61 {P}
I had this issue on SWMBO's Omega V6 estate: 60 LEDs and only 3 were working; in the end I just removed it completely before the MOT and the MOT man seemed happy with that.
mot query - Dynamic Dave
As NC says, as long as one of the LEDs work in a high level brake light, then it should pass.

www.motuk.co.uk/manual_130.htm

High level stop lamps:-

These are lamps usually fitted in the rear window or boot spoiler of a vehicle and may consist of a number of light sources .
The lamp is one unit, so as long as at least one of the light sources illuminates when the brake pedal is pressed the lamp is deemed to be working.