Bulb Out Warning

jbewley · #1 05-05-2009, 02:58 PM

I converted the rear fog to a break light. Now that the factory harness is disconnected I get a bulb out warning every time I start the car. Is there a way to trick the connector and stop this from happening?

Jim

rkw · #2 05-05-2009, 07:57 PM

There are a few ways to approach this. You didn't describe exactly what you did but I assume that you cut the fog harness and spliced in a line to the brakes light. If you add a couple of diodes, you can have the bulb connected to both the fog and the brakes, and it will operate for both functions. Otherwise you can put a load resistor on the disconnected fog harness to simulate a bulb.

Out of curiosity, does the warning stay on or is it only when stating the car?

jbewley · #3 05-05-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkw

There are a few ways to approach this. You didn't describe exactly what you did but I assume that you cut the fog harness and spliced in a line to the brakes light. If you add a couple of diodes, you can have the bulb connected to both the fog and the brakes, and it will operate for both functions. Otherwise you can put a load resistor on the disconnected fog harness to simulate a bulb.

Out of curiosity, does the warning stay on or is it only when stating the car?

I disconnected the factory harness and connected the break light harness. As soon as the factory harness was disconnected I got the rear fog bulb out warning light. Nothing was cut, but merely disconnected. It is just at start up and then goes off. This is really odd, because although the computer recongizes the rear fog light is there it will not turn it on. That is why I went to the break light arangement.

Jim

**schatzy62** · #4 05-06-2009, 04:28 AM

The computers on these cars is very very knowledgeable. Any change in the state of wiring and it will let you know. What you need to do is not disconnect the fog light but leave is connected but just hanging loose (tape it up somewhere so it does not rattle). Then tap into the brake line and add a socket with bulb in place of the fog light.

jbewley · #5 05-06-2009, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

The computers on these cars is very very knowledgeable. Any change in the state of wiring and it will let you know. What you need to do is not disconnect the fog light but leave is connected but just hanging loose (tape it up somewhere so it does not rattle). Then tap into the brake line and add a socket with bulb in place of the fog light.

I would do that, but then I have to buy another complete fog light unit. They do not sell the bulb part by itself that I can fnd. Do yoou know where one can be found?

Jim

**schatzy62** · #6 05-06-2009, 06:29 AM

Check with your local dealer they will be able to get that part for you.

BTW which kit from where did you use.

jbewley · #7 05-06-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

Check with your local dealer they will be able to get that part for you.

BTW which kit from where did you use.

I got the fog light unit from Pelican parts (slightly cheeper) and the harnes from Minispeed.

FYI: It does appear that the factory codes for the rear fog light on the 2009 are NOT there as they were on other years. When programed the computer recognizes the light and switch are there, but can not send a signal to them to come on. From what I have been told this happens only when the factory codes are missing. On Amenican cars the dealer can have the codes sent to their scanners and enter them. I guess this would be hard to do from England, but perhaps down the road they might be able do it.

This has turned out to be one expensive $100.00 option, but we live and learn.

Jim

**schatzy62** · #8 05-06-2009, 07:43 AM

I was just reading thru some of your other posts. It seems you at one point had the car programed for the rear fog light and now wan to change it to have brake lights. Wether it actaully worked or not, this is why you are now getting a light out warning.

No programing for fog lights - the computer does not know there should be a bulb there so it does not look for it.

Program the computer to have fog lights - Now the computer is looking for the light bulb. so if it is not there (or not connected) then the computer will tell you there is a light out.

I would be willing to bet that if you reconnect the fog light wire to the bulb socket your light out warning will go away.

So what you need to do is check that and if that is the case then you need to do one of three things.

1. Live with the bulb out warning
2. Take the car back to the dealer and have the fog light programing removed.
3. Get a bulb socket and have a bulb in it just tucked up under the foam to keep it form rattling, or find a resistor to show the computer that the bulb is actually there.

Just be ware that number three above is a dangerous way to go. if the switch is accidentally turned on and the bulb lights up it can cause enough heat to start a fire in the foam. Same goes for a resistor.

JimRoberts12 · #9 05-06-2009, 07:52 AM

ok so if i'm just doing the minispeed add on from blankes to the fog lamps that run off the brake lamps i'm fine? i won't have a warning sign right? this is just affecting the people with existing fog lamps that went for the "conversion"

**schatzy62** · #10 05-06-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrcsh6

ok so if i'm just doing the minispeed add on from blankes to the fog lamps that run off the brake lamps i'm fine? i won't have a warning sign right? this is just affecting the people with existing fog lamps that went for the "conversion"

What it comes down to is "has the computer been programed for Rear Fog Lights"? Just note that even after some people have had the car programed for Rear Fog Lights they have not worked in this case the car has been programed and the answer to the question is yes.

If YES then you will get a bulb waning light.

If NO then you should be all set.

If you do not have a Rear Fog Light Toggle switch then chances are the car has not been programed unless you asked them to.

**schatzy62** · #11 05-06-2009, 08:44 AM

I have not seen nor have i tried the MiniSpeed harness but one thing to concider is how this will affect the bulb waring light when you do actually have a burned out bulb.

I.E. if the bulbs are in parallel and the one in the tali light burns out then the one in the fog light housing will still be running and the car will may not know there is a bulb out, as the circuit is still seeing one good bulb and that is all it needs ot see to keep it from activating the bulb warning light.

Also can someput a link here to this harness so that i can check it out. I am not sure exaclty which on from their website you are all talking about.

jbewley · #12 05-06-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

I was just reading thru some of your other posts. It seems you at one point had the car programed for the rear fog light and now wan to change it to have brake lights. Wether it actaully worked or not, this is why you are now getting a light out warning.

No programing for fog lights - the computer does not know there should be a bulb there so it does not look for it.

Program the computer to have fog lights - Now the computer is looking for the light bulb. so if it is not there (or not connected) then the computer will tell you there is a light out.

I would be willing to bet that if you reconnect the fog light wire to the bulb socket your light out warning will go away.

So what you need to do is check that and if that is the case then you need to do one of three things.

1. Live with the bulb out warning
2. Take the car back to the dealer and have the fog light programing removed.
3. Get a bulb socket and have a bulb in it just tucked up under the foam to keep it form rattling, or find a resistor to show the computer that the bulb is actually there.

Just be ware that number three above is a dangerous way to go. if the switch is accidentally turned on and the bulb lights up it can cause enough heat to start a fire in the foam. Same goes for a resistor.

OK, I made a llot of posts because I was unaware of what was actually going on. As time went on I began to figure it out. Here is what actually has happened:

1. I installed the rear fog and switch.

2. Dealership said they could program it to work.

3. They could not and the switch does NOTHING when used.

4. Because it would not work I went with the break light conversion.

5. When I unplugged the fog light harness I got the bulb out warning.

6. As a result of the programing the computer recognizes that the light and switch is there, but WILL NOT send a signal to turn it on so there is no danger of overheating.

After all this I believe it is safe to say that the factory codes are not there on the 2009, so the programing will only do half the intended job.

Bottom line is that the "fog light" will NOT work, but the "bulb out warning" WILL.

Jim

jbewley · #13 05-06-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrcsh6

ok so if i'm just doing the minispeed add on from blankes to the fog lamps that run off the brake lamps i'm fine? i won't have a warning sign right? this is just affecting the people with existing fog lamps that went for the "conversion"

Just install the break light kit, forget about the programing and you will be fine.

Jim

rkw · #14 05-06-2009, 11:47 AM

jbewley, I suggest you also ask Minspeed about this. They might have a solution for extra brake light for an already connected fog.

BTW, you added the fog lamp yourself and then had it programmed. Did you also get the toggle switch for a fully functional rear fog (otherwise there was no point to getting it programmed).

As I said earlier, by adding a couple of diodes you can have a fully functional rear fog, AND also have it come on with the brakes, AND you won't get a bulb out warning. The dual function via diodes is something that Minspeed sells for the 1st gen and they may have something similar for 2nd gen.

jbewley · #15 05-06-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkw

jbewley, I suggest you also ask Minspeed about this. They might have a solution for extra brake light for an already connected fog.

BTW, you added the fog lamp yourself and then had it programmed. Did you also get the toggle switch for a fully functional rear fog (otherwise there was no point to getting it programmed).

As I said earlier, by adding a couple of diodes you can have a fully functional rear fog, AND also have it come on with the brakes, AND you won't get a bulb out warning. The dual function via diodes is something that Minspeed sells for the 1st gen and they may have something similar for 2nd gen.

Good information rkw. Yes, I did insert the toggle and a new switch cover. I will follow up with Minispeed. That could be just the ticket.

Thanks,

Jim

jbewley · #16 05-28-2009, 10:16 AM

Problem solved, so here is what I did:

I sent an email to both Mini Speed and New Mini Stuff and received no reply.

I spoke to and engineer type who told me that the computer was only sending out a very low watt pulse to detect the bulb so a 1 or .5 olm resistor would do the trick. As long as the power is not truned on then the resistor will not get hot. Since the switch does not work then this will never happen. I could not find a resistor that low so I used a 10 ohm and the warning light no longer comes on.

Problem solved.

Jim

ErebusJCW · #17 06-09-2009, 07:10 AM

Jim,

I', really glad you figured this out because I just did the same thing, and that warning is driving me crazy. But I am not good with electrical issues at all, so could you explain how to connect the resistor? And where would I be able to purchase one? (or two, however many I need)

Thanks,

Jordan

jbewley · #18 06-09-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErebusJCW

Jim,

I', really glad you figured this out because I just did the same thing, and that warning is driving me crazy. But I am not good with electrical issues at all, so could you explain how to connect the resistor? And where would I be able to purchase one? (or two, however many I need)

Thanks,

Jordan

I wanted to keep the plug where it could get air flow around it so I taped it to the cord of the new plug that is connected to the rear fog. I got the risistor at Rario Shack. It has a wire coming out each end. I doubled each wire over a little and then stuck each one into one of the two openings in the plug. I then took a piece of tape and covered each wire, leaving the center section clear to insure it woudl not work lose.

So far all has been fine.

Jim

Redfive · #19 12-04-2010, 02:13 PM

I have an 08 MCS and the brake light plus a red car on a lift light are on. All exterior lamps appear to be operational. What does this indicate?

gregsmini · #20 12-04-2010, 07:19 PM

Redfive,

I'm not certain what you are describing. I'm on page 136 of Owner's Manual. Shows vehicle on lift with ABS, brake, or some kind of warning triangle. It doesn't say whether it is red or yellow. The explanation states "Vehicle electronics failed". You cannot continue your journey.
I strongly suggest go to your manual and verify which indicator you have before driving your Mini!
It may be something else, but please check before having further difficulties.