Hi All
This problem has been bugging me for a while. I'm used to the usual trauma that comes from electrical faults so I'm not going to rush in and swap part in a blind panic! ...

• Pressing the brake pedal seems to cause the indicators to flash rapidly (as they do when a bulb has blown) when indicating.
• Braking without using the indicators causes the indicator dash light to glow dim.
• Head or sidelights have no effect on the problem as do any other systems that I can find.
• The problem is erratic - one minute it's there, the next it's gone. Oddly it seems worse first thing in the morning when it's cold (but not to be relied on!)

I'm fairly sure this is the usual earth problem but I'm not 100% where to start on this one...

Does this sound like a fault on the brake or indicator circuits?

As yet, I haven't dug too deep, but I recently fitted new engine earth straps, relays, indicator stalk, light switch and a few bulbs. All lighting circuits have been absolutely fine for months. This problem started about a month ago.

I'm happy to pull all the lights apart to check the terminals but thought I'd see if anyone had the same problem due to brakelight switch or something random....

Any ideas would be great

sounds like a bad eath to the rear lights

Hade this years ago on a friends mini. Stripped out all the lights and harnes to find it was a duff stop/tail bulb where the filament was resting to earth when hot. Worth a try By the way its usual to introduce yourself as a nooby and welcome

Defo bad earth

Thanks for the replies!

I was certainly considering starting with the lights.

Harlequin - I also had a couple of Mini's in my early days. Defender electrics seem a dream compared to the disasters I had with my 1000
Reckon I'll swap out the rear bulbs and see what that does. It's so easy to waste hours when it could be something that simple. P.S - just posted as a newcomer

I know the rear brake/tail lights are bit different to the indicators. You remove the bulb holder from the back of the lense rather than taking the lense off the front (OE or aftermarket specials?) I can't remember by 200tdi having the same fittings....

Rear lights are either shorting or there is a bad earth in one or more of them.
Take the lenses off all 4 rear lights.
take out all the screws and remove the bulb holders from the bodywork.
Clean everything up and put back together. Make sure all the bulbs are good and the filaments are not shorting.
Watch out for the poor screws and cracking the lenses.

Start with wd40 in all the lamps then move on to the earths.

Thanks for the pointers - just need a couple of hours without it snowing or minus 5 wind chill so I can feel my hands while I tackle it!