Vitara Lights Fault

In news:[email protected],
Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
fingered:
> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
> <[email protected]> writes
>> In news:[email protected],
>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled
>> and fingered:
>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>> where to start looking.
>>
>>
>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>
> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the
> breaks or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse
> the break lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you
> remove the side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks
> are applied.
>
> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!

try adding an additional earth connection directly to the "brake" <note
the spelling ;o) ... > "lights" .. and to the side lights ...



--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
<[email protected]> writes
>Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
>> to start looking.
>
>Sounds like an earthing issue. Check and clean / replace the earth straps
>.. engine to chassis and battery to chassis.
>
Unfortunately not, see my reply to Steve Parry
--
Best regards
Rick

Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
> <[email protected]> writes
>> In news:[email protected],
>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>> fingered:
>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>> where to start looking.
>>
>>
>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>
> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
> or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
> lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
> side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.
>
> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!

Has this just started to happen where the lights were previously working ?
If it's a 'new' problem I'd look for wires that can move and which may have
chafed possibly causing a short circuit, and at the earth connections, if
any, between lighting sockets and body.

Or is this a new vehicle you've bought and someone's 'played' with the
wiring ?

'Cos it now sounds like the above and someone's off-loaded it or a basic
wiring problem, where someone's re-wired lights incorrectly, possibly added
Fog / Driving lamps or towing hitch and socket, and screwed up. I think you
need a wiring diagram and a Volt Meter ..

--
Paul ...

(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
http://paul-xxx.blogspot.com/ Just started a blog ..
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
<[email protected]> writes
>Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
>> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
>> <[email protected]> writes
>>> In news:[email protected],
>>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>>> fingered:
>>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>>> where to start looking.
>>>
>>>
>>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>>
>> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
>> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
>> or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
>> lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
>> side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.
>>
>> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!
>
>Has this just started to happen where the lights were previously working ?
>If it's a 'new' problem I'd look for wires that can move and which may have
>chafed possibly causing a short circuit, and at the earth connections, if
>any, between lighting sockets and body.
>
>Or is this a new vehicle you've bought and someone's 'played' with the
>wiring ?
>
>'Cos it now sounds like the above and someone's off-loaded it or a basic
>wiring problem, where someone's re-wired lights incorrectly, possibly added
>Fog / Driving lamps or towing hitch and socket, and screwed up. I think you
>need a wiring diagram and a Volt Meter ..
>
You might just have given me a clue - the towing socket. Can't remember
when I first noticed the problem. Didn't pay much attention to it as I
too assumed it was an earthing problem and as I only use it to tow a
harrow round the paddock and nip down to the pub I kept putting it off.

Fingers crossed! Otherwise it's out with the AVO and up with the
carpets.

Thanks for the help guys.
--
Best regards
Rick

> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
> to start looking.
>
Wrong bulb in the stop/tail light?