Both tail lights stopped working

[it will fit]

Rear fogs, brake lights indicators are working ok, but tail lights are both out. Good job it was a friendly plod that stopped me on the way home last night.

Going to get new bulbs this morning but is there anything else I should be looking at? Do they normally both fail together?

 

[discool]

Original bulbs maybe so the have had the same time burning brightly, I found one blows and then 1 or 2 weeks later the other one goes. I usually replace both bulbs together but it's not easy with a disco1 and the extra seats so I have only replace one stop/tail bulb the other is ok, not bad for 12 years.

 

[colinl]

just had to change the brake light bulbs in mine and it was a right bastid to do!

 

[landowner]

Both my tail lights went out tonight as well, twas a fuse. Must be fused seperate from the front on my 110, dont know why.

 

[Pikey]

Both my tail lights went out tonight as well, twas a fuse. Must be fused seperate from the front on my 110, dont know why.

most lights are fused on seperate circuits so you don't lose all ya lights at the same time. Also keeps the fuse rating down. & prevents melting wires.

 

[landowner]

You would have thought one fer each side though and not one fer back an one fer front

 

[Pikey]

You would have thought one fer each side though and not one fer back an one fer front

Tis british design and engineering we're talking about though

 

[it will fit]

Where am I likely to find the fuse? If it's easier to get at than the bulbs I'll check that first

 

[nicedayforit]

Where am I likely to find the fuse? If it's easier to get at than the bulbs I'll check that first

The side lights on a disco are fused in pairs front and rear offside, front and rear nearside. A fuse blowing wouldn't put out both rear lights.
If the front side lights are both working the fuses are ok.
Back to the bulbs!

 

[it will fit]

Hopefully some time today it will stop raining long enough for me to at least get the jump seats out and prepare my hands for battle

 

[nicedayforit]

Hopefully some time today it will stop raining long enough for me to at least get the jump seats out and prepare my hands for battle

Just out of curiosity, are the tail lights in the rear light cluster?
Mine are in the bumper light fittings, I thought they were all like that.
Maybe that's why there not working.
If you are going into the rear light cluster, I find it easier to change all the bulbs in one go saves having to do the job again for another bulb.

 

[it will fit]

Wish I'd read that before breaking my wrists getting in behind the jump seats

Methinks it's going to be one of those days. Tried removing the bulb holder and there was a lovely loud crack as the outside of the unit cracked and fell apart.

 

[it will fit]

Cool, that's got the bulbs out - from the bumper array. The 1 dead, 1 live looking bulbs are both 21 watt. Shouldn't tail lights be 5 watt bulbs?

 

[discool]

Tail light is 5w, indicator is 21w in the rear bumper lamps.

 

[nicedayforit]

Cool, that's got the bulbs out - from the bumper array. The 1 dead, 1 live looking bulbs are both 21 watt. Shouldn't tail lights be 5 watt bulbs?

Two bulbs in each fitting
21W single filament indicator
5W single filament sidelight

Do you front side lights work? The ones on the headlight units.

 

[Richard Martin]

Wish I'd read that before breaking my wrists getting in behind the jump seats

Methinks it's going to be one of those days. Tried removing the bulb holder and there was a lovely loud crack as the outside of the unit cracked and fell apart.

You mean you've never checked the operation of your lights before?
Actually some 300 TDI Discos (e.g. mine) only have tail lights and direction indicators in the bumper cluster but some later ones definitely have direction indicators, and possibly tail lights as well, in the clusters on the wings.

 

[landrovermilfer]

You mean you've never checked the operation of your lights before?
Actually some 300 TDI Discos (e.g. mine) only have tail lights and direction indicators in the bumper cluster but some later ones definitely have direction indicators, and possibly tail lights as well, in the clusters on the wings.

yes mine are like that , only in the bumper , mine is a late 1994 , my lights failed due to corroded muddy wires under the bumper , and whoever it was that said the other lights are a pain to get to is right , they are an awful design , pain in the ass ( and fingers)

 

[Richard Martin]

yes mine are like that , only in the bumper , mine is a late 1994 , my lights failed due to corroded muddy wires under the bumper , and whoever it was that said the other lights are a pain to get to is right , they are an awful design , pain in the ass ( and fingers)

I checked mine when I got home from work...I have tail lights in the bumper and in the wing/corners, but indicators only in the bumper

 

[it will fit]

My old v8 had all but indicators in the rear wing mounts. The 300tdi has indicator and tail in the bumper - but having checked them all' all 4 in the bumper were 21watt. Not anymore.

Thanks for your help everyone. Useless as I am at anything to do with vehicles I am now having a go at most things that crop up. Not sure if I'm confident enough to change the cam belt yet, but give it a few months and I might be.