wiring problems

Can anyone help me with a couple of faults with my 2000 TD5

Fault 1 Fuse keeps blowing for left side lights. Bulbs are ok and when I change the fuse everthing is ok until I switch lights off then back on again when fuse blows.

Fault 2 When I use the rear left indicator, both rear fog lights flash faintly. The indicator is also faint. Could this be due to water getting into the connector to the cluster allowing charge to leak into the foglight circuit. It has only happened since I fitted a new cluster and removed feet of insulating tape from around the connector block.

check all the contacts, clean them up and smear (yeah i know) vaseline on them all. Check all the earth contacts at the rear in particular.

I'll do that

Thanks

The telecoms industry uses 'Jelly Crimps' (similar thing to those Blue Scotchblocks) which are Vasaline filled crimp joints to evade water ingress down in Manholes etc..

Thanks

Almost invariably when other bulbs in the same cluster flash dimly or come on dimly, the reason is that the main EARTH from the cluster to the body has failed, and that is usually because of corrosion where it is fastened to the body by a screw / nut / bolt.

So, first check where the earth is, and fix it.

Next, sometimes the earth strip IN the cluster can get foosty, or the earth wire connection to it.

You can check all this with a length of cable on each end of which is a crocodile clip. Clip one end hard to chassis earth, and the other end to the earth strip inside the lights cluster. If the problem goes away you know you're on the right trail.

I repeat this as it is so important ....
Almost invariably when other bulbs in the same cluster flash dimly or come on dimly, the reason is that the main EARTH from the cluster to the body has failed.

Charles.

Traced the fault to a faulty earth in the wiring to the light cluster. Tidied it up and I now have normal indicators and working foglights.

Just in time as MOT is booked for Wednesday.

Thanks to all for their advice.