Lighting issue - im foxed.

petit_pablo · Feb 4, 2015

Hello all

Ive got a weird fault that i cant figure out on my electrics.
Problem started with the rear offside tail light, the bulb blew and when i changed the bulb it showed up what i thought was an earth fault with the bulb holder. (The brake lights stayed on, and weird things happened when main beam was on).

Ive replaced the bulb holder and managed to make the problem even worse now.
I now have no sidelights, no dash illumination (instrument panel and fag lighter), rear offside tail light doesnt work and the lights on indicator on the dash doesnt work.
Main beam lights work, nearside tail light works and indicators work.

Im assuming ive suffered a short somewhere but i cant see where. All related fuses appear ok.

Its on a late model 98 reg 300tdi

Thanks in advance

Barbados · Feb 4, 2015

I pressure washed my 97 a few days ago, placed as much plastic bags and taped them sealed yet water got somewhere and made my lights do some fancy stuff. I left it in the sun and when all was dried out it is fine again.

You have a lot happening there and I am not sure how much the forums can help, you will have to get a test light or a volt meter and do some trouble shooting. Did you try removing the bulb holder from the body or disconnect? It would only cause issues if it had shorted anyways and should blow a fuse.

Check all the values of the fuses to make sure none are over rated, I have seen people do this just to get the circuit to work and leave them there.

I think your issues will all come down to hands on trouble shooting.

zeaphod · Feb 4, 2015

petit_pablo said:
Hello all

Ive got a weird fault that i cant figure out on my electrics.
Problem started with the rear offside tail light, the bulb blew and when i changed the bulb it showed up what i thought was an earth fault with the bulb holder. (The brake lights stayed on, and weird things happened when main beam was on).

Ive replaced the bulb holder and managed to make the problem even worse now.
I now have no sidelights, no dash illumination (instrument panel and fag lighter), rear offside tail light doesnt work and the lights on indicator on the dash doesnt work.
Main beam lights work, nearside tail light works and indicators work.

Im assuming ive suffered a short somewhere but i cant see where. All related fuses appear ok.

Its on a late model 98 reg 300tdi

Thanks in advance

My money's on an earth fault somewhere, possibly a short in addition. You could try isolating the problem by disconnecting the rear lighting at the connector inside the rear of the tub. Check the main earth connections first though.

Barbados · Feb 4, 2015

zeaphod said:
My money's on an earth fault somewhere, possibly a short in addition. You could try isolating the problem by disconnecting the rear lighting at the connector inside the rear of the tub. Check the main earth connections first though.

True. Reminds me to clean up and protect all the earths on mine too.

petit_pablo · Feb 4, 2015

Thanks for the swift replys

Ive found a fuse blown which appears to be related to the lighting problem i have, however it should have been a 5a and its been replaced with a 10a at some point. (I was looking for the 5a ones lol). Im hoping the short happened when i pushed the new bulb holder into the connector as the pins didnt line up and didnt push home properly.

Off to find some 5a fuses and will report back

Barbados · Feb 4, 2015

petit_pablo said:
Thanks for the swift replys

Ive found a fuse blown which appears to be related to the lighting problem i have, however it should have been a 5a and its been replaced with a 10a at some point. (I was looking for the 5a ones lol).

That's exactly what I wrote telling you to look for. That's double the amperage, so if you got a short on that circuit you will be facing burning wires and possibly a fire. If you have some electrical knowledge, check the circuit first for shorts from the load side of the fuse holder before installing the fuse.

Lighting issue - im foxed.

petit_pablo

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Barbados

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zeaphod

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petit_pablo

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