Instrument Pod

Stop and Tail Lamp Warning Lights, False Alarms

>I have occasional stop & tail lamp warning lights come on as well.
>The tail lamp is the little side light on the rear.
>A good thump usually restores that to the norm.

#1
On each of your side tail light wiring harnesses, there is a male/female connection to the main
harness which is found by removing the tool kit and lifting up the rear carpet. Check these
male/female connections as the pins in both of mine were not making consistent connections
resulting in periodic "tail lamp" warning signals. I just cut out the connectors and put in a
crimped splice, no more warnings.

#2
I have an 89 S4 and I had a similar problem. The 'Stop Light Warning' indicator came on
randomly (or so I thought). Apparently, it was only happening when I had the lights on. What
happened was when the lights are on, enough current flows through the circuit to heat up the
connection between the bulb and the socket contacts. The contacts lose their continuity to the
bulb, and the indicator lights up. I replaced the bulb and I gently pried up the contacts a little
bit, and it seems to be fixed.

#3
>I still have the problem with the warning light comming on when I push the brake pedal.
>I cleaned the contacts for the tail lights but did not help. It just seems weird that all my
>lights work properly and im getting this warning light for the tail lights when I apply the
brakes?
>Im lost, anyone have any more suggestions?

I had the same problem once. I replaced both brake light bulbs with new OEM. It went away.
Your shark has sensors that detect variations in current flow. If one is more or less than the
other, it thinks there is a bad bulb.