Freelander 1 2003 TD4 3dr Tail lights issue (Not an April 1st gag)

Hi all,
I've got an interesting intermittent tails lights issue.
Sometimes neither side works but when I indicate the light on that side alternates with the indicator.
Sometimes only 1 side works then indicating makes it the other side start working
Sometimes it's a combination of the above, and very occasionally it all works perfectly.
I thought maybe this could be an earthing issue, like maybe the tail light current uses the indicator earth when it can, or something freaky like that.
Any suggestions where to start looking?!
Thanks

Sounds like earthing and indicator return is finding a path through the tail light.

Identify the negative return lead and check continuity to the car body. Clean any connections and try again !!

Disconnect the rear light clusters 1 at a time to see if one of them is causing the problem or replace both with second hand ones for a few pounds

Both good suggestions. Thanks will try today.

Annoyingly couldn't get it to go wrong today!
So decided to add extra earthing, to be sure.

bukko said:

Annoyingly couldn't get it to go wrong today!
So decided to add extra earthing, to be sure.

Click to expand...

Lol, typical, as soon as the engineer turns up, it won't go wrong.

Did you tell yourself that you were making it up?