Tail lights not working

[Deleted]

My tail lights have stopped working, but brake lights (same bulb) are still working. Fuse seems fine. Any ideas much appreciated.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Fuse 29 your front sidelights should be out as well if not there is a connector problem between front and back it's a case of elimination

[Deleted]

Thanks very much for your help. I should have said that the front side lights are working, so it looks as though some detective work is needed!

[Phil Nottingham]

Check the obvious first make sure the bulbs are OK! Do you use the car regularly with lights on - faults develop over time

There are multiconnectors inside the n/s A post behinf the kick panel - leaking windscreen seals/corrosion can allow water to drip onto them.

It may also just be a Lucar that has fallen off the console light switch especially if it has overheated as they do as they pass their use by date. As they are on different circuits the former is likely but there are also more bullets behind the boot side trims. Even the fuse box terminals corrode

You have to be systematic in checking and use the wiring diagram

[Deleted]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Some of these things will be beyond me, I'm afraid, but at least it helps to let me know if I will have to call in an auto electrician or not. I will have another check at the weekend to see if I can find anything. I'll need to get it fixed soon as I can't really use the car until the lights are working.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Jun 24, 2008 20:07:33 GMT @douglas said:

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Some of these things will be beyond me, I'm afraid, but at least it helps to let me know if I will have to call in an auto electrician or not. I will have another check at the weekend to see if I can find anything. I'll need to get it fixed soon as I can't really use the car until the lights are working.

The same fuse supplies the rear number plate light! is that working? also the boot light which probably wont work as the Mercury Tilt Switch will be US the wiring from front to back is Red and Green then it turns to Red in the boot area.

[Phil Nottingham]

Remember to point out to the electrician that because of the parking light facility there is a separate fused circuit for each side of the car which actually runs down under the n/s sill door-step plate. So if the fronts are working it points to wiring/joint fault(s) backwards from the junction in the nearside A panel.

This is assuming its V8 as its the other way round on the 3 Litres apart from Mk1's which did not have Parking light facility

[Deleted]

Thanks again for assistance. Very much appreciated.

[Deleted]

I thought that John and Phil might be interested in the outcome of the tail lights situation. The answer involved some information I did not give you because at the time I thought it had no relevance. I had taken the lenses off the tail lights to check things a while ago and discovered that the base plate holding the bulbholders was almost completely corroded all around the bulb hoders. In fact when I pushed the bulb on both tail lights a disc of metal containing the bulbholder came away completely in my hands. I decided I would try and secure these back in place using "chemical metal" and was able to do so , but the result was (I eventually worked out) that there was no longer an earth in the circuit. I know very little about these things, but when I realised that this might be the problem, I was able to re-create an earth connection by connecting a piece of metal between the bulb holder and the base plate. As from yesterday I now have working lights! However, your advice helped me on the way. I may need to replace the base plate in due course. Do you happen to know if these are still available anywhere?

[johnwp5bcoupe]

They never give you all the facts do they Phil Give David Green a ring Douglas Tel [phone] he will sort you out

[Phil Nottingham]

Its a very common problem - a giveaway being you can see red and/or when looking under the rear wing towards the back.

you may also see into the boot.

New ones are rare but good s/h ones can be had but try DG first