Fwd: Re: 164 brakelights again

["C.M. Smith" <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

>Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 14:59:59 -0600
>To: bjanesi@domain.elided
>From: "C.M. Smith" <cmsmith@domain.elided>
>Subject: Re: 164 brakelights again
>
>Hi Brad
>
>Not on my car!!  I have a 91 and the relay, it's location, and the symptoms 
>and correction are as described.
>
>I did the work myself so I know I'm correct. Mine is also a Canadian spec 
>car, but the factory does not distinguish in the manual between US and 
>Canada on this component, .
>
>In my shop manual, there is a relay shown in the area you describe which is 
>labelled " brake fluid reservoir relay".  There's also an ABS relay in the 
>front drivers side of the engine compartment.
>
>Unfortunately, the stop lamp relay, aka the rear lamps control unit, is not 
>described in the electrical portion of the manual (section 40) and it's not 
>listed in the list of relays!!! It is dealt with in section 43 (on board 
>instruments & electronic control devices), on page 43-8 in my 91 manual.  On 
>page 43-5 is a picture of 4 control units in this area, one of which is the 
>offending relay box, the others relate to the seat belt buzzer, door locks 
>and window lifts.
>
>Many people have reported this symptom and more than one of us has found and 
>replaced this unit. My mechanics were unaware of it however!! I don't know 
>how it works or why it's there, but it controls the left and right side lamp 
>clusters separately. It may be connected to the blown bulb sensor, if there 
>is one on an ALFA!
>
>Cheers, and forgive me if I feel a little elation at providing you with 
>fresh information, your articles on this car are superb.
>
>At 01:53 PM 9/5/99 -0400, you wrote:
>>Hi Michael- 
>>
>>I'm not sure what you're referring to with your "diagnostic procedure". 
>>The relay for the rear brake lights is located just forward of the
>>windshield under the hood, in the area between the fire-wall and
>>partition, about center of the car.  It is gray in color, 5-prong, 20A.
>>
>>Brad Anesi
>>'91 Project 164Q 5-speed
>>
>>>It's probably the stop lamps relay located under/behind the bottom of
>>the
>>>glovebox on a sturdy metal bracket. Unfortunately there are several
>>other
>>>relays there. On my 91 the stop lamp relay was opaque white plastic,
>>others
>>>have reported different colours such as black ( I think). ...
>>
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End of alfa-digest V7 #1022
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