Hi Level braking light - 07 hardtop

Hi Folks,

My 07 hardtop Jimny brake lights work fine apart from the hi level one. I'm guessing that both the rear brake lights and hi level brake light are run off the same fuse? Am I correct in saying this, I believe the hi level light is factory fitted (i've never bought brand new, so can't confirm this)?

I checked the bulb itself for continuity with a fluke, it's fine, so I then checked the bulb socket, but there's no voltage there when the brake pedal is depressed. Next thought is that the wiring may be broken or shorted.

I had an issue on my last Jimny where the rear lights didn't work, turned out to be a shorted damaged wire which ran on top of the passanger footwell, underneath the carpet. I don't really fancy tearing out all the insides of my motor this time of year, especially as I don't have a garage to carry this out, so wondered if anyone knew the route this cable takes, or if I've missed something out.

Any info is appreciated.

Are thay switch earth or switched live take a look at the wiring between the body and rear door

Hi Marky, thanks for the info.


I'm not an electrician, so not sure what switched earth and switched live are.

Is 'switched earth' where the circuit is completed by earthing to the body and 'switched live' would be earthed back to the battery terminal?

Switched earth is you have a live feed there then when its switch it puts an earth to it

Or

Switched live is it has an earth fead there and then when its switch it put a live feed to it

ah, ok.

So it's like a positive or negative earth set up.

Either way, when the brake pedal is depressed, I should be able to measure a DC voltage going to the bulb, but I'm not. So I guess I just need to take some paneling down and find the route of the wire.

Just go to the rubber bit between the door and the body and see if the wire is broken